Chapter Thirty-One: The Dinner Party Pt.2

Rolling my eyes at the now empty hall, I stepped forward and twisted the knob to my temporary bedroom. Walking over the threshold, I took a quick look around the earth toned furniture and bedspread. My bag hit the bed with a bounce as footsteps echoed out behind me followed by the snap of the door swinging closed.

“Hey. Watch it, I got important shit in there.”

“Like what?” Lilly rasped out, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smirked as I headed to the tall wooden dresser on my left, “Like my very mentionable unmentionables.”

His low chuckle had my chest warming the tiniest of degrees but it quickly went cold in terror when I opened the dressers doors. There. Hanging smack in the middle of the almost entirely empty dresser, hung thee most atrocious dress of all time. A pure white monstrosity with bows and lace of pink, black and purple. Slack jawed, I gazed at the puff sleeves and wide hoop skirt bottom.

“Who do these people think I am?” I asked, aghast. “A demented Little Bo-peep?”

“Who?”

“Exactly! Who the fuck thinks I’d actually wear this?”

The wood creaked as Cillian moved closer, “What’s wrong with it?”

“You’re not serious.” I scowled, looking over my shoulder at him.

His broad shoulders shrugged, causing his cloak to flutter softly, “It’s a dress. You only have to wear it for a few hours.”

“Do you not understand the severity of our situation right now?” I demanded, spinning around to face him. “Cillian, I would rather die than wear that dress.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

Brows raised to my hairline, I cocked my head, “Oh, I’m sorry. Would you like to wear it?”

Shaking his head, he pushed past me to pull the dress free of the dresser. Twisting it in his grip, he looked at it from all angles, “Maybe you could take a few bows off?”

“Or just burn it in the fiery pits of hell where it belongs.”

With an unamused stare, he asked, “Seriously, Macha what’s wrong with it?”

“Well, for starters. It’s four different colors, covered in bows and lace.” And I should have known that would mean nothing to him.

“So?”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I popped them back open and spoke calmly, “Cillian. My entire body is a mix of brown, silver and royal blue. Do you honestly think that dress will look good on me?”

He paused for a moment before holding the dress up underneath my chin. Through his mask, I could see his eyes squint, “Oh.”

“Yea. Oh.” I snorted.

Yanking the dress from his hands, I tossed it onto the bed and sneered when the hoop skirt stayed upright. Ugh, I know some Fae enjoyed the old human eras of fashion but the Victorian era with the hoop skirt? Aoife had worn a Victorian dress but skipped the hoop skirt like any normal Fae. But the Murphy’s and O’Sullivan’s weren’t normal, they were snobs…

“Your cackling.”

Blinking, I turned to Cillian, “Was I?”

His body heaved in a huge sigh before heading to the only door on the right wall, “I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

Waving him off, I stared at the hideous dress in front of me with a growing smile. Slapping a hand over the closest bow, I clenched my fist and ripped it off with a laugh. Using both hands, I pulled, ripped and sliced away the more eye burning pieces of the dress. I shredded the layers until I came across something that didn’t make me want to drink iron.

“Ooooo.” I murmured, appreciatively.

Like what I did to Sean, I broke the metal bars of the hoops and reached in to gently pick up my new dress. The white silky slip was held together by thin little straps that went from chest to lower back. Looks like one of the maids thought adding a back to the slip would be a waste of material. After all, only mates or lovers were supposed to see it.

Giddy excitement filling me, I quickly stripped down and pulled the slip carefully over my head. Shivering a little at the feel of the material on my skin, I did a little spin to feel the bottom of the dress swish against my calves. Barefoot now, I raced across the room and started searching for a pair of shoes to go with it. Nose scrunching, I pinched the round toed dark brown heels in my fingers and threw them over my shoulder. Absolutely not. What to do? What to do?

Rushing to the bed with a now permanent smile on my face, I snatched up my silver waist chains in both hands and closed my eyes. Picturing what I wanted in my mind, I slowly pushed the demand into the metal so I wouldn’t get it wrong. I could feel as the metal twisted and smoothened out until finally it stopped. Eyes opening, I laughed in glee at the pair of heels now sitting in my hands. They weren’t anything too special but the strappy metal heels would be the first pair I’ve worn since before Slykhelm. Actually, this was the first time I’ve gotten to dress up in a little under a thousand years.

Dropping down on the bed, I quickly bent to put the heels on and melted them to better mold my feet. Sitting up straight, I pushed both legs forward and kicked my feet with a tiny squeal. So. Cute. The silver swirling tattoos on my legs and feet made the silver heels look like an almost natural extension to my legs. Popping up onto my feet, I took a hesitant stride across the room. Slapping my hand on the bedpost at the first wobble, I straightened my back with a huff and tried again. On the third try, I was walking across the room with a confident swing in my hips.

But a knock at the adjoining door had me gripping the dresser to stop myself from tripping. Panic crushed my chest and I found myself trying to take everything off before the guards- wait, no. I can be in this, it was okay to show off my assets now. I wasn’t in danger of anything. I could crush anybody like a gnat.

When the knock came again, I called out, “Just a minute!”

A little frantically, I looked into the mirror hanging on the inside of the dresser door. Yanking my braid over my shoulder, I quickly pulled the soft strands apart until I was left with thick wavy clumps. Probably, shouldn’t have left it in for almost two days. Shrugging, I bent at the waist and forcefully shook my head as fast as I could. Straightening, I flung my now loose hair over my shoulders and quickly ran my fingers through the waves.

Nerves sparked across my chest when he knocked again, “I said, give me a minute!”

Smoothing down the puffy parts closest to my face, I fluffed and moved the blue locks around until I was happy. In the mirror, I raised my tattooed fingers to trace over my cheekbones and then my lips. I wish I had black lipstick. I used to wear it all the time. Licking my lips, I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and bit down. When I released it, my bottom lip popped out of my mouth a little plumper and a lot redder.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see the blue reflection of them in the mirror as they shot over to the adjoining door. Stomping over, all feelings of nervousness were replaced by annoyance. Muttering underneath my breath about hard of hearing silver headed giants, I flung the door back and into the wall with a clack.

“Yes?”

Practically eye to eye in these heels, I could easily see him glancing over my face before moving down. Which would have been fine, except he didn’t look away and that pesky hyper awareness he sometimes triggered in me was starting to come alive. But the feeling of the silky material against my legs as I shifted brought my excitement back full throttle.

Stepping back, I gave a wide smile and stuck a pose with one leg forward, “Well? How do I look?”

When he said nothing, I couldn’t help in my bubbling happiness but to do a little spin, “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Cell Bait…”

“Yea?” I spit, eager to hear what he had to say about my more feminine look.

His eyes finally met mine, “You can’t wear that.”

“What?” I asked, my smile wilting as my heart dropped in disappointment. “Why not?”

“It’s not-” Silver eyes flicked over my face during his pause and then suddenly the serious tone of his voice changed into a lighter one, “-it’s not done yet, obviously. Wait here.”

I blinked rapidly when he traveled out of existence with very little warning, “This man did not just run out on me.”

Confused, I turned and headed back over to the dresser to look over my form. Gripping the fabric by my thighs, I pulled it out and twisted side to side. What’s wrong with it? I mean, to the conservative it was a little scandalous but I didn’t look bad. Did I? Almost immediately, I pushed that thought aside and grinned at my reflection. What the hell am I thinking? I’m a fucking God. Snorting, I pulled the top a little lower to give my small chest a little umph.

“Mother of fucking gnomes!” Gripping said small chest, I glared at the jack-ass that appeared behind me in the mirror.

The silver mask gave me nothing but I knew he was smirking, “Close your eyes.”

“That’d be a fuck no.”

“What, you don’t trust me?” He asked with a mocking lilt.

Flashing my pointed teeth in a quick sneer, I fought against all my instincts and reluctantly closed my eyes. And right on cue, I could feel everything around me tenfold including his body heat moving closer. I felt the slight heat of his arms move around my head a moment before something cool and hard fell against my chest. Jerking, I stepped back only to push myself right into his chest.

“Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Taking a deep breath, I forced it out with nodd while my hands fisted in my growing anxiety.

The small weight fell against my chest once more and both sides of my hair were pushed back at the same time before I heard a faint click. Instantly, there was a light pressure at the back of my neck from the weight of the necklace. My brows furrowed at the feeling because while I knew it was a necklace the chain wasn’t a chain. A soft fuzziness tickled my neck as my hair was pulled away but whatever was hanging on it was smooth and hard.

“Alright. Open ’em.”

Blue eyes flashed back at me in the mirror as I first peeked out and then opened my eyes completely. At the end of the simple strip of black velvet hung a good sized dark indigo diamond. And from the unnatural shine coming off of it, it had to have been mined from a Fae mountain. But once the astonishment of the gift wore off, suspicion set it.

“You’re not going to stake me again are you?” I questioned, squinting at his reflection.

“No.”

Fingering the expensive pendant, I asked another question, “Are you really a double double agent for Mab? Because this gift won’t stop me from killing you.”

“No.” He repeated with a roll of his eyes.

At a loss, I looked at the shiny diamond, “Then what the hell is this for?”

“It’s… for what you went through at Slykhelm.”

Eyes lifting to meet his, I raised a blue brow, “What?”

“A compensation for the nightmares, torture, and eating issues.” He heaved out, sounding unbelievably forced.

Trying to smother a grin, I turned around to face him, “Lilly, is this an apology?”

“No. It’s a compensation.” He corrected, firmly.

“From your own money?”

He paused, “Yes.”

A laugh slipped out as warmth bloomed inside my chest and I grabbed his arm before he could walk away. Using my other hand, I grabbed his metal covered jaw and forced him to angle his cheek towards me. Leaning forward, I pressed a chaste kiss to the cool metal, “Thank you, Lilly. It’s beautiful.”

His head was turning back to mine when a knock at the bedroom door pulled my eyes to it. “Queen Macha, dinner is ready.” A snobbish voice called out.

“Thank, Divines. I’m actually hungry. Let’s go.” I said, giving him a pat on the shoulder before walking over to the door.

Pulling it open, I enjoyed the look of poorly concealed shock covering the nameless males face. The shock that only got worse when Cillian appeared just behind my shoulder. Obviously, the family’s love of the Victorian era extended past fashion. Grinning, I brushed a hand over my new diamond pendant to subtly draw his attention to it. The nameless males eyes bulged at the sheer extravagance of the necklace and I notched my chin up just a bit in smugness.

“Queen Macha, that…is not the dress the families had prepared for you.”

“No, it’s not.” I preened. “Don’t I look Divine?”

The short male cleared his throat, “Well, yes. But-”

“Then show us the way to the dining room. My Acolyte gets hangry.”

Light eyes flicked over my shoulder as his face paled further, “Of course. Follow me.”

Humming, I followed behind him as he turned to head down the left side of the hall. Metal heels clicking against the wood, I couldn’t help but feel powerful as we rounded the corner. It wasn’t the normal feeling of confidence but something heady and intoxicating. Like pure steel flowing through my veins, nothing could break me. Whatever it was, I could tell the moment the light yellow haired male felt it. His back stiffened before he glanced over his shoulder and picked up speed.

We followed him around two more turns down a simple log hallway adorned with more armor before finally coming to a stop at a door. A hand touched my shoulder from behind but pulled away almost as quickly. Curious, I turned slightly to see what Cillian wanted but the second I did his head gave a little jerk. He was quick to move around me however and push to the dining room door open to enter first.

“Wait, I have to-” The small male muttered, rushing to stand in front of Cillian. “Now, introducing…Queen Macha and her Acolyte.”

The low murmuring that had been taking place at the small males and Cillian’s entrance, halted when I stepped over the doorway. Within two clicks of my heels the women were stiff and the men were looking everywhere but at me. They really sunk their teeth deep in the past, didn’t they? I thought, looking each of them over. Black hair with flashes of purple was loosely pulled back into an elegant bun while Lady Murphy’s tan neck disappeared into the high collar of her light green dress coat snapped up to her chest by pearl colored buttons.

The disdain in her arched black brows and pursed lips was clear as she said, “There was a dress left in your room. Could you not find it?”

“Oh, I found it.” I replied, walking closer to where the four of them sat behind a horizontal table. “I’m wearing a piece of it.”

“Yes, that much is clear.” Lady O’Sullivan remarked, sarcastically. Her short pink hair gelled back in soft waves that laid flat against her scalp. Her dark skin was like a beacon in the room against the high collared peach dress she wore.

When I stopped my approach, the men had finally collected themselves enough to look at me. Lord Murphy wore a white dress shirt with a light green vest and a black top hat that hid his purple hair. Lord O’Sullivan wore an identical outfit yet his vest was peach to match his wife’s dress. Both men sat at the ends of the table, placing their wives side by side at the wooden table lined with a lace tablecloth.

With a nudge, I pulled the wooden chair away from the table and took a seat across from the four of them. The O’Sullivans looked shocked at my use of a Seelie ability but the Murphy’s had better control over their facial expressions. Gazing at the couples before me, I took in every detail that could be beneficial. Because of their same colored hair, the O’Sullivans had matching gold bands on their left pointer fingers. While the Murphy’s sat at least four inches apart and hadn’t made eye contact with each other since I’d entered the room.

A smile curled my lips when the heat of their eyes was replaced by Cillian’s body heat radiating from right behind me. It was so quick that I thought I had imagined it but I saw Lady Murphy’s face go slack with understanding for half a second. She knew what Cillian was. Being the devout Fae she was, it would have been more surprising if she didn’t know an Acolyte when she saw one.

Black eyes quickly snapped back to mine, “The whispers. They’re true.”

“Yes.” I answered, despite the lack of a question.

Lady Murphy began to shake her head, “It can’t be. The Divines swore to never have children. Who are you descended from?”

I caught myself before I could answer truthfully, “We can discuss that after we discuss your position in the war.”

“What are you offering?” Lord O’Sullivan drawled haughtily.

I waited to reply as a server suddenly appeared to fill our brass goblets. It was only after she had disappeared again that I said, “A chance to rid the realm of Mab. To tear down the kingdom you were thrown out of.”

“If the whispers are true then you’re her daughter.” A nasally voice accused. “Why shouldn’t we just kill you?”

I sighed, pinning Lady O’Sullivan with a bored stare, “Do you honestly believe you could?”

“You need our support and soldiers. Why would we give that to you for free?”

My eyes slid to the end of the table to meet Lord O’Sullivans pink ones, “Why wouldn’t you?”

Refusing to be the first one to look away, I stared him down as plates of food were set down in front of the five of us. When he finally did look away it was at the sound of Lady Murphy’s voice.

“Are you willing to deal?”

Eyes snapping to hers, I immediately got excited, “What kind of a deal?”

“One where everyone gets what they want.”

“Lay it out.” I hummed, drumming my fingers on the wooden table.

Lady Murphy smiled coldly, “A spot on the council for us and an Estate for the O’Sullivans.”

I pretended to think it over, “Mmmmm, no.”

Her black eyes narrowed but she said nothing.

“Counter offer.” I grinned. “No council seat. An Estate for the O’Sullivans and a Knighthood for Lord Murphy.”

“Marquess.”

I laughed, “No.”

“Earl.” She squinted.

“Baron.”

“Viscount.”

“How aboutttt...Baron.”

“Barons fine. I don’t want more responsibility than that. And no Fae deal, I don’t need it. I want Mab dead as much as the next Fae and if what they say about you is true, then I want to be on the right side of this war.” Lord Murphy suddenly snapped.

Mildly surprised, I raised my goblet, “Then let’s toast to new allies and Mab’s coming death!”

Before our cups touched, Lady Murphy asked, “Which Divine is your father?”

“I don’t recall.” I rushed out, clinking our cups together. “To the future of Tir Na Nog!”

——————————————————————————

That little feminine moment Macha had gave me life, she was so cute. And moment between her and Cillian? Swoon. Lmao.

As always, like or comment if you enjoyed the chapter!

Smooches, Verbage 💋

Chapter Thirty-Two: Fraying Restraint

~Cillian’s P.O.V~

Gradually waking, my eyes remained sealed as I listened for what woke me. A heavy moment of anticipation passed before I cracked my eyes open to gaze discretely around the room. The metallic flashing of my eyelashes made it harder to see in the darker corners of the room but it wasn’t long until I realized that no one else was in the room with me. Twisting onto my back, I raised up on my elbows to look around the empty room in confusion.

What woke me?

Pulling the thick comforter back, I carefully placed my bare feet on the cold floor. The wood creaked slightly underneath my weight as I crossed the dark room towards the bathroom. Ears still straining for whatever had awoken me, I had barely walked over the threshold of the bathroom when I heard it. A low rumble.

Freezing in place, I slowly looked down at the wooden floor as they began to vibrate. There’s no quakes in Tir Na Nog. I thought, brows drawing together. Understanding and dread filled me when the entire Estate gave a harsh buck. At least not natural ones. Moving as quickly and as steadily as I could on the shaking floor boards, I headed to the adjoining door while shouts from the hall intensified. Gripping the door knob, I stumbled over the threshold and came to a teetering stop at the foot of her bed.

Shiny blue hair laid plastered against the white pillows as her sharply defined face twisted from side to side. With another groan spilling from her plump lips, the walls shook violently sending down a fine dusting of wood shavings. The growing panicked screams echoing throughout the Estate had me racing to her side. Grabbing onto her shoulders, I yelled her name as I shook her harshly.

Head lulling to the left, her face scrunched up in pain sending another round of bone rattling jolts. A loud crack had my head snapping up to see a large crack spreading across the wall above her head. She’s going to bring down the whole Estate. When the entire room swayed in time with her mumbles, alarm sparked me into frantic action.

“Macha! Wake up!” I roared over the rumbling Estate.

My hands slipped from her shoulders in mild shock as a blue light shined through the skin of her eyelids. This was the second time that her true self had peeked through despite the lack of her transformation. The first time it happened was in the hall before she joined the others for dinner, her eyes had glowed like she had just made a deal. But the light coming from her closed eyes now, was much more luminous.

A loud splintering sound from the hall forced me to take drastic action. Forgive me. Shaking my head clear of any hesitation, I pulled my right arm back and flung it forward in a harsh slap across her face. One that never connected.

Her hand snapped up around my wrist in a grip that could rival iron as the tremors rocking the Estate instantly stopped. The light from her open eyes grew in intensity until I reluctantly turned my head away from her raw Divinity. Heartbeat increasing, I kneeled at the side of her bed with my wrist in her hand and waited for Macha to come forth.

“Tell me, Acolyte.”

I stilled at the sound of her voice. It wasn’t the one that I had heard countless times before, full of passion and mirth. No, this one was hauntingly other and detached. It reminded me of when her father would spin lies to create chaos within the court. It sounded like the voice of a god.

“Are you the one my father spoke of? The someone who’d love me no matter which path I took? Destroyer or Savior?”

A shiver raced through me as she ran the knuckles of her free hand over the metal mask covering my face and whispered, “Or will the sight of thousands crushed beneath my throne turn you away?”

Swallowing thickly at the heat of her Divinity shining down on me, I gave the only answer I knew to be true in my heart, “I’d burn the realm in your name if you willed it.”

“You wouldn’t, not yet. But you will.” Her words trailed off in time with her hands sliding free of my face and wrist.

The moment her grip on my wrist disappeared, I jumped to my feet and gave her my back. Placing my hands on my hips, I took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t love Macha. I felt strongly for her, that was obvious enough to me but it wasn’t love. At least not yet. I was devoted to her true reign as Queen no matter which way it went so why would she doubt me? I thought we were past this distrust…but it wasn’t her that was speaking. It was her God side so what did it see that even I couldn’t see about myself? What was her Divine ability?

“Lilly?”

The groggy croak of her voice startled me into turning around. With a tattooed hand pressed against her forehead, she pushed herself into a slumped over position against the headboard.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in my room?” She grunted sleepily, blue hair puffed up around her head.

I fought against the softer feelings her half asleep form brought out in me to ask, “Didn’t you feel the shaking?”

“What?” She barked, suddenly alert. “What’s shaking? Are we under attack?”

“Do you remember the conversation we just had?”

Naturally blue brows furrowed as she sat upright, “What conversation?”

“Never mind.” I muttered, eyes drawn to the blue diamond resting above her bound chest. She’s still wearing it.

Warmth like a blooming flower flowed over my chest until I felt like it’d burst, a sense of pride following close behind. It felt right seeing her wear something of mine because I didn’t buy it like I had led her to believe. I crafted it for her centuries ago when she was still a child and I was her young guard. When I found out who she’d become to the realm and who I had suspected she’d become to me in the far distant future.

“The one night I choose not to sleep naked, you stare at my chest like it holds the secrets of the realms.” She snarked under her breath.

Lips curving underneath the mask, I shook my head in amusement, “Get up. We’re leaving.”

“Why?” She asked, already getting to her feet despite the question.

“Because you almost brought down the entire Estate in your sleep. There’s no way Mab hasn’t already heard about this and your visit to the Dunns.”

“I did?”

Her lean, barely covered, body pulled my focus momentarily as she walked past me, “Uh, yes. You did, you had another nightmare and your eyes were glowing. It wasn’t for the first time either. I think you might be transforming sooner rather than later.”

“Fucking fantastic.” She sighed out on a yawn. “We’ll ride out to the MacDuffys Estate. Give the soldiers a break from traveling.”

Fabric rustled out behind me as I told her, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mab’s soldiers will be on the roads looking for you.”

“I’m counting on it. Now, are you going to keep standing there showing off your alright-ish physique or are you going to go pack?”

“Alright-ish?” I scoffed, raising my arms and flexing my back for her to see. “Is not a word, Cell Bait.”

My little joke backfired when her hands suddenly slid over the heated skin of my back to rest against my upper chest. The cloth of her tunic scratched my skin lightly as her body shifted to get impossibly closer. Small puffs of air ghosted over my bare shoulder causing the skin to raise at the same time her hand drifted down my torso. Muscles tightening, I waited with bated breath and lowering lids for her next move.

“Too bad you’re not a Choco Blast.” She taunted before the wet heat of her tongue lashed over the curve of my shoulder followed by the sting of her teeth.

Whipping around, I slid my hand around her neck with my thumb underneath her chin forcing her face up to mine. Hooded blue eyes stared defiantly back at me as I felt her hidden swallow roll against the skin of my palm. Yanking her closer, a grunt escaped her chest when I wrapped a firm hand around her hip and squeezed. Deep breaths left my chest at the sight of her pink tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip teasingly.

Before I spoke, I knew there was no hiding how my voice had deepened in arousal. “Why? I taste better.” And as soon as she opened her mouth to respond, I dropped my hold on her and took a step back. Turning around with a smirk at the shocked look on her face, I called over my shoulder, “Be ready in ten.”

“Fucking tease.” She hissed as I closed the adjoining door behind me.

…………………………….

Sliding my hand between the leather strap of the saddle and the fine light brown hair of the Kelpies’ side, I made sure it wasn’t pinching his skin while periodically glancing over at Macha. In a pair of black leather pants and a white tunic with blue trim, she looked like her usual self. Though her expression was pinched as she spoke with the O’Sullivans and the Murphy’s. The moonlight shining from above made the tattoos on her body glow and gave her an ethereal effect. Maybe I should have just kissed her and stopped this seductive dance we seemed to be trapped in.

Divines. Just fuck her already, your wining for it.

Surprised, I snapped my head to the left and found a pair of large black eyes staring back at me. With a white stripe down the middle of his long face, I grew agitated at the way his lips showed off his sharpened teeth in a sneer. Moving closer until we were face to face, I glared at him through my silver mask, Get. Out. Of my head.

Oh, trust me Frosty. I would but until I take you where you need to go? I’m stuck in that sap trap you call a brain.

We don’t have to communicate so get out.

He snorted, throwing his brown mane with a toss of his head, You’re lucky I’m here to help.

I don’t need your help. I snapped back, flashing my eyes back to Macha to make sure she was still occupied.

Look man, it’s obvious you have no game. Like zero. Thankfully, I’m my herds stud so I know things. What you need to do is bite her on the ass.

Eyes widening in disbelief, I stared into his solid black eyes and repeated, Bite her on the ass?

Yup. Right on the cheek with those needle teeth you have when she least expects it.

No.

Huffing, he stopped his hooves and glanced over at Macha before looking back at me, Trust me. A filly like that? You’ve got to lock her down before some other asshole comes along and bites her first. She’s a Queen so it needs to be permanent and the ass is the perfect spot for everyone to see.

Shaking my head, I stopped when I noticed the others looking over and pulled my hood further over my face. She’s a female Fae, not a filly. Our kind doesn’t do things like that. And again, I don’t need your help.

You are the biggest idiot, I have ever met.

Not surprising since you can’t count yourself.

Oh, okay, Big guy. I’ll make sure to laugh on her coronation day when I see you glaring bitterly up at the King or Queen Consort beside her.

My eyes narrowed as rage exploded through me at the image he put in my head, Who said I wanted to be her King Consort? Maybe I just want to fuck her.

The nameless male Kelpie stared at me for a long moment before throwing his head back and stomping his hooves as he neighed in laughter. The dick actually pranced around me while he laughed, drawing everyone’s attention including Macha’s towards us.

Bahahahaha, yea. Cause you give a diamond that big to some common filly you wanna plow! Hahahaha, Divines. I’m in your head, you fuck! I literally felt the disgust rolling through you after you said that. You have it bad, man. What’s stopping you, huh? Are you afraid or something?

No. She doesn’t need to be distracted right now, it’s not the right time.

I’m calling bullshit. He said, stopping his prancing to nudge at my shoulder with his head. That filly may not need a distraction but something tells me she needs an anchor and that anchor could be you.

Brows furrowing, I was going to tell him to shove his half cooked metaphor up his ass when he nudged my shoulders harder. Annoyed, I shoved my shoulder back into his face but he just did it again.

Look at her, damnit.

Turning my head, I spotted Macha up on her own six foot tall Kelpie in time to watch her throw both middle fingers to the sky. Long blue hair dangled down her back as she shook her head at the grey clouds coming in and pointed a finger at them, yelling “Fuck you, Father! I’m doing it!”

Sexy and crazy. Bite her on the ass.

Shooting him a dirty look over my shoulder, I barked, Enough about the ass biting.

Don’t be a pussy. She might like it, lots of fillies do. The Kelpie leered, his lips pulling back to show off his pointed teeth.

Ignoring him now, I turned and got a grip on the saddle before hauling myself up onto his back. Twisting to look at his rear, I made sure our bags were secured and then gave him a nudge in Macha’s direction. There was a pause where he huffed and stomped his feet before he moved in a smooth trot. His large hooves clomped us out of the stables and across the small courtyard to stand beside Macha’s Kelpie. The black haired Kelpie took one look at my light brown haired one and snapped her sharpened teeth in his direction in warning.

Laughter lit the air a moment later as Macha leaned down to pat the side of her Kelpie’s neck, “Your kelpie tried to bite her on the ass when she was sleeping.”

I rolled my eyes, not the least bit surprised since he was trying to get me to do the same thing. Shifting my hands on the reins, I watched my Kelpie lower his head a little and nudged the female’s neck. In a sudden movement, the female reared up and tossed her head in the air with a neighing scream. Concerned that the Kelpie had sent her flying, I looked past the still rearing Kelpie to find Macha clinging to her with her thighs and her hands in the air. With a grin as large as the sun plastered across her face that had me wondering why I even bothered being concerned.

The Kelpie’s hooves hit the ground with a thunderous shake that cracked the dirt beneath her feet causing my own Kelpie to take a few steps back. Eyes bright in excitement, Macha dropped her hands to grab the reins and maneuvered her Kelpie to face us with their backs to the Estate gate. Strapped down to the T with her weapons and the new forearm shields, she looked every inch the warrior Queen that the Prophecy foretold.

“Listen up!” She called out. “Tonight, we ride out to the nearby MacDuffy Estate! We will be taking the main road there, in full view of everyone! We should reach the Estate by midday tomorrow! And if we happen to run into any of Mab’s soldiers on the way?” Cutting her eyes to the left and then to the right, she reached back and pulled her swords free. Blue blades shimmering in the white light of the moon, she flashed pointed teeth in a malicious smile, “Well, I think it’s time we showed her a glimpse of her future!”

Cheers and shouted agreements of the enemy’s gory death rang out behind me, the soldiers fevered bloodlust bringing a dull glow to Macha’s eyes as she looked them over. There was a moment when I thought she was going to say or do something more but she just shouted for us to move out. Her pitch black Kelpie turned on its hooves and shot off at full speed between the barely opening gates. Yanking on the reins, I shot out between the narrow opening and barreled down the dirt path after her.

What a filly! So bloodthirsty! Did you see her bared teeth during your filly’s speech? I have got to try and bite that ass again!

Stop calling your future Queen a filly.

She’s not our Queen Mare of the Kelpies yet. Not until the war is won and we are granted majority power in all decisions pertaining to Tir Na Nog’s bodies of water. That was the deal and only then will I stop calling her a filly.

Choosing not to respond, I leaned forward in the saddle until my head was a bit behind his and urged him to go faster. Eyes trained on the rippling mass of blue hair about twenty feet in front of me, I squinted against the cutting wind threatening to freeze the metal mask to my skin. The sound of beating hooves pounded in my ears along with the heavy breathing of the horses as we raced down the path.

By the time we were running alongside Macha, the Kelpies had steam puffing from their nostrils and sweat slicking their skin. The city’s buildings and taverns turned into miles of forest on either side of the dirt road we raced down. Sitting back in my saddle, I casted a look at the dark forest that whizzed by in a smearing blur. Tightening my grip on the reins, I chanced a glance back to see the others following closely. A cloud of dirt kicked up from the Kelpies hooves leaving a thin wall between us and the city we had just left behind.

“Halt!”

Jerking my head forward, I yanked back on the reins signaling the Kelpie to stop its sprint. He kept pace for a few feet before stopping and stomping foot to foot as the adrenaline urged him to continue moving. Nudging him to turn, I caught sight of Macha’s Kelpie prancing around a few feet to my left. While her horse danced beneath her, her eyes stayed trained up at the sky above me. Following her line of sight, I saw what had caught her attention so completely. A thin trail of smoke rose out from the dark tree tops to mar the inky night sky.

“Tell me, Acolyte. Who do you know that’d be so brave as to let their location be known in this forest?”

Dropping my gaze back to hers, I shook my head despite already knowing where we’d be heading next.

Blue eyes flashing in mirth, she gripped the reins of her Kelpie and nudged her forward. As they trotted past, Macha trailed the tips of her fingers across my thigh, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

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Attention, Attention. The sexual tension in this book is officially ASTRONOMICAL🌌!!

Lmaooo. Y’all I’m really enjoying these Kelpies 😂. That glimpse of Macha God side though? Things are heating up! In more ways than one!

As always, feel free your comment your thoughts on the chapter!

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Damsel In “Distress”

Shifting my ass on the saddle, I struggled not to rub at the base of my spine. I really shouldn’t have started us off in a full sprint, I thought. I hadn’t rode a Kelpie in forever, I really needed to start thinking things through. Too bad that sounded like it required effort.

Your stud, is he as annoying as his Kelpie?

Oh, definitely. I didn’t think he had it in him but he’s a total tease.

The pretty ones always are.

He is pretty, isn’t he? In his own way. I replied, casting a look over my shoulder at the giant.

My Kelpie snorted and continued her slow trek through the woods, Why haven’t you slept with him yet? You’re not the type to hold back.

Why haven’t you slept with your stud?

Because he doesn’t actually want to settle down, he just wants to say he has me. Your turn.

Huffing, I gazed at the ever darkening forest surrounding us, I’ve come close but he always does something to ruin it. It’s like he doesn’t want to sleep with me.

That’s hard to believe. His eyes have been glued to you this entire time.

Well, that’s not usual. Have you looked at me, Babes? I’m magnetic.

Chuffing out a quiet laugh, she didn’t respond as she picked our way down a rocky incline.

If Cillian wanted to keep our relationship platonic that was fine but teasing a touch starved individual such as myself? That was cruel. Then again, maybe I just needed to slip out one of these nights and get laid. I was reasonably sure that I was ready. Although sex no matter who it’s with does require a certain level of vulnerability and trust. Could I let some stranger put their hands all over me after everything I’ve been through? My heart began to pick up speed at the thought while my knuckles turned white and the leather reins creaked in my grip. Closing my eyes, I took a deep shuddering breath and calmed my mind. Exhaling, I took another deep breath and held it for several seconds.

Releasing it, I opened my eyes and thought about the very depressing realization I had just come to. I’m going to be a celibate god. Nope, no, nevermind. Absolutely not. Just because I wasn’t ready now, didn’t mean I wouldn’t be forever. I had about another three or four good millennia’s left in me, provided I managed not get myself killed. Oh! And, I’ll be a Divine after I transformed and who knows how much time that’ll add to my life! I have plenty of time to get over my aversion to that type of vulnerability, right? Right?

Wo-ow. That was a downwards spiral on crack.

Oh, sue me. I like my sex life alright? It’s important to me.

Her black mane flew around my hands as she tossed her head with a laugh, Well, I have a solution to your problem that won’t take hundreds or thousands of years.

What is it?, I asked, giving the back of her large head a skeptical look.

Fuck that hot piece of ass that obviously has a major hard on for you. By the way we’re here.

Snorting, I threw my leg around her back and jumped down. Divines, you kiss your mother with that mouth?

What? Scared of giving him your virginity?

Gasping in outrage, I quickly walked around to stand in front of her. Pointing a finger in her smug face, I snapped, You take that back, I haven’t been a virgin since before the humans had fire!

You haven’t had sex in almost eight hundred years. She deadpanned, turning her head so she could look at me with her right eye. You’re probably wound tighter down there then a mouse trying to give birth.

Mouth dropping open in shock, I looked her over before choking out a soft disbelieving laugh. “I fucking like you, you nosey bitch.”

The feelings mutual, She sassed back with a toss of her mane.

Still chuckling, I shook my head and walked over to Cillian and his Kelpie. Sidestepping the large tree between us, I looked up at his impressive form on the equally as impressive Kelpie. Or at least I tried to, my gaze got stuck half way and locked onto his muscular thigh directly in front of my face. Divines, the power behind this mans….Why haven’t I slept with him yet? Because it’s a down right travesty.

Oh yea. I thought as his foot, not so gently, knocked against my shoulder. He has spectacularly shit timing.

“What, Ugly?” I grunted out, my fantasy of us rolling around in the fire light burnt to a crisp.

He tipped his head in the direction of the dim fire distantly visible between the trees.

Rolling my eyes, I walked to the back of his Kelpie and started digging around in his bag without bothering to ask. Teasing me, ruining my Divines damned fansty. I should kick your literal giant ass. Gah, fucking men and their fucking idiocy. It’s like if they didn’t do half the shit that they did, they would get laid ninety percent of the time, I ranted to myself.

Preach!

My hand paused in it’s digging, at least I thought I was ranting to myself. Fingers snagging on the thick fabric of his extra cloak, I yanked it free of all his other crap and reclosed the bag. Shaking out all the wrinkles, I smiled at the fine quality of the cloak and then I dropped it. Jumping on top of it, I hummed an old Fae tune as I twisted my feet and dirtied it up. Done with my little dance, I picked it up with a grin and called on a blue dagger.

Cillian’s Kelpie shifted closer to me but it was too late. With a series of quick slashes, I shredded his cloak into something that resembled rags. Flicking the dagger over my shoulder to melt back into one of the swords, I wrapped the dirtied cloak around my shoulders. Clasping the button at my throat, I pushed my hair back to fit underneath the hood as I pulled it over my head. A sharp mental demand had my twin swords curving and bending to mold over my torso like a breastplate. Grabbing the sides of the cloak, I pulled it in and together to hide my body so only my face could vaguely be seen.

Boots slammed down in front of me as I bent down and rubbed my fingers in the dirt. With little thought, I rubbed the gritty soil into the smooth skin of my cheeks and forehead. Once you’ve been covered in your own shit and piss, dirt is nothing, I thought sardonically. Slapping my hands to rid them of the dirt, I stood to my full height and raised my eyes a little higher to meet Cillian’s through his mask.

The silver of his brows peeking out of the eye holes in his mask made it obvious he had a question. And by obvious, I meant an educated guess on my part. So, being the tendered hearted Fae Queen I was, I decided to answer the unasked question of my subject.

“I’m a damsel in fucking distress, can’t you tell?”

He blinked and tilted his head in further confusion.

Okay, maybe I wasn’t selling this right. Breathing quickly, I cleared my throat and batted my eyes until they watered. Show time. Pulling the cloak tighter around me, I pitched my voice and gripped Cillian’s cloak desperately, “Oh! Oh, thank Divines I found someone! Please, my-my-my village was just raided by soldiers and I had to leave my sister behind, can you help me? Please! You have to help me!”

Lilly stared down at me for a few moments before his eyes crinkled.

With a shove, I let go of his cloak and hissed, “Go ahead and laugh, Asshole. But those soldiers will be begging to help me, mark my words.”

Knocking him out of the way with my shoulder, I stomped towards the trees just to come stomping right back to spit, “And I liked you better when you had no emotions!”

As I spun back around, I caught him straightening his shoulders and striding after me. Uh oh. Pulling the ends of the cloak off the ground I discreetly sped up, not because I was afraid but because the image of him spanking me was extremely appealing. Picking my way around a large boulder, I glanced back to find Lilly right behind me with the others carefully making their way towards us. Jumping a little, I took two large steps forward when his hand clamped down around my shoulder.

Turning to the side in his hold, I stared at the low glow of the nearby fire and the figures walking around it as I said, “I’m going to go in and distract them while you and the others surround us. I don’t want a single survivor.”

“That’s not a plan, Macha. That’s half an idea.”

At his low serious tone, I waved him off, “It’ll be fine. And you’re not supposed to be talking, remember?”

“I don’t like this. What if we don’t get to you in time?”

Twisting my head to face him, I gave him a grin, “More fun for me then.”

He shook his head in disagreement, “I’ll come with you.”

“Noooo. They’ll never believe me if you come hulking out behind me.”

“Macha.” He replied in a warning tone.

Sighing, I took another step back so he could see me more clearly and reached up to pull the cloak away from my neck. Dipping two fingers into the neckline of my tunic, I gripped the velvet cord between my fingers and pulled out the beautiful diamond hanging from it.

His eyes collided with it like metal to a magnet, “You’re still wearing it.”

“Of course, I am. You gave it to me. So, don’t stress. You’ll always be with me.” Annnd how I wish I could suck that last sentence right back into my mouth. Cheeks warming in embarrassment, I tried to speed pass the words by blurting, “A woman should always have at least one diamond on when going into battle.”

“I agree.” He murmured, hooking a finger in the cord and gently tugging me closer. “My diamond and only mine.”

Brain short circuiting from his unexpected possessiveness, I went on autopilot. “Give diamonds to a lot of women then, do you?” I purred, mindlessly.

Ugly, Macha. Ugly. He kicked you in the shoulder!

You’ve got it baaaaad.

Get out of my head, Kelpie!

Lifting his hand, Cillian cupped the side of cheek and brought his face inches from mine to whisper, “Just to you and all your personalities, Cell Bait.”

A genuine smile spread my lips at his words and something warm and fuzzy infected my chest.

In coming.

“Then be satisfied that you’re technically coming with me.” I replied, wrapping my hand around his and pulling it free of the pendant.

His back straightened and stepped a respectful distance away at the same time our soldiers came around the large boulder.

“Relay my orders, Acolyte.”

Not waiting for a response, I turned and carefully started making my way closer to the enemy camp. Eyes on the ground, I periodically glanced up to make sure they hadn’t spotted me while trying not to step on any twigs. Pausing with my hand against a tree trunk, I wrapped the cloak tighter around me and sped up my breathing. Batting my lashes, I waited until I had the urge to cry and then thought about jabbing an iron stake through the side of Mab’s slender neck.

Tears immediately began trickling down at the image I had created in my mind. It’s just so….fucking beautiful!, I thought with a sniffle. Pushing off the tree, I hunched my back and added a heavy limp to my gait. Left foot dragging through the dirt, I thought about what sob story I’d tell them as I made my sniffling louder.

What do you think, Kelpie? I’m stuck between whether they killed everyone in the village and burned it to the ground or I watched them slaughter my entire family before my eyes?

Aren’t those the same thing?

No. One is way more graphic and requires sobbing, maybe some devastated screaming.

And you’re sure you can pull this off?

I smirked as the campfire came closer and shot a look up at the sky, Time to see who’s a better liar, Father. Me or you. I’m betting on me.

Dropping my gaze, I started a limping run through the trees with heavy breaths that made it seem like I had been running for miles. Scraping my hands against the bark of a tree closer to their view, I pushed off it with a stumble and cried out. Twenty heads immediately snapped in my direction with hands on their weapons as I came stumbling out into the warm light.

“Please!” I gasped, pretending to trip and sprawling to my hands and knees in front of them. “Please! You have to help me!”

A woman with cautious yellow eyes and black streaked hair took a step closer to me as her hand locked around her sword, “Who are you and how’d you find us?”

Panting, I swallowed thickly and shot my gaze around the camp in a frantic manner, “Your-your soldiers of Mab’s Kingdom, right? ”

“Are you color blind, girl? Do you not see our purple tunics? Now answer the questions!” Barked an older man standing behind the fire.

Oh. I am totally killing you first, Asshole.

Flinching deeper into the cloak, I shakily shook my head and rushed out in a sobbing mess, “My name’s Maeve. Please, they burned down my village. My-My, oh Divines, my father he tried to-to…”

The woman, who had spoken to me first, stepped even closer as the other’s dropped their hands from their swords. Crouching down, she tried to connect our eyes but I kept mine on the ground as I fake cried, “Who’s they, Sweetie?”

“The soldiers wore blue and laughed as they-they gutted my father.” I rasped between gasps of air.

Cursing the yellow haired woman rose and gave me her back as she spoke with the older male, “I told you her men were close. We need to get word to the Commander that the traitor is amassing an army.”

“And I told you it’s pointless.” He snapped back with a scowl. “She must still be nearby-” You have no idea. “And she probably brought her entire little army to burn the village-” Not even close to a quarter of my army, actually. “We can slaughter them all and go back to Mab with her head in tow. We’ll be heroes.”

Oh, how I adore arrogant men.

Me too. They’re so satisfying to kill.

Leather boots crunched aggressively over the sparsely grassed area to stop beside me. A moment later, a harsh hand gripped onto my covered forearm and yanked me to my feet without warning. Stumbling over my feet, I fell back to the floor with a fake cry while the man tightened his grip and hauled me up again. Gritting my teeth, I pushed back the urge to chop his disgusting hand off at the wrist for touching me.

Your mans getting restless.

Are they in position?

Almost.

Then stop him.

“Enough! You’re hurting the poor girl, she just lost her family for Divines sake!”

“I don’t give a fuck!” He screamed back. “This is war, there is no room for kindness.”

Flicking my eyes from the ground to the woman, I watched as she shut down on herself and turned her back to us while the others practically did the same. Weak. I sneered to myself. Back still hunched to make me appear shorter than him, he locked a hand around my wrist and shook me roughly.

“Was there a woman there? One with blue hair and silver tattoos?”

I shook my head meekly and gave a weak pull against his hold, “No, please. I-I don’t know. It all happened so fast.”

“You couldn’t have missed her, she’s a giant with two swords. Come on, girl! Make yourself useful!” He shouted, spit flying from his gaping mouth.

“I don’t-I don’t know! I didn’t see!”

The man’s tan face grew red until I could practically see the steam coming from his ears. Fighting down a laugh, I flinched away from him instead. Orange eyes flashing, a cruel smile twisted his lips before he said, “We’ll see if you still don’t remember after I slap these on ya.” Free hand reaching behind him, he brought it back to dangle a pair of iron cuffs in the air between us.

Freezing in place, the air left my lungs in a rush as my eyes stayed glued to the metal swinging from his fingertips. The man’s voice turned to muffled murmurs while I stared at the pair of cuffs mocking me. Head tilting, I flicked my narrowed eyes from the cuffs to the man holding them and then back again. Iron. That’s iron. Iron chains. He’s trying to trap me. Cage me. Throw me back in a cell.

Rage hammered through my veins like a war drum as my limbs began to shake from it’s intensity. Pointed teeth forced my clenched jaw further apart and cut into the sides of my cheeks. The sting barely registered as I watched him raise my wrist and bring the cuff closer. Cage me, lock me away. Again. He wanted to trap me again. Tossed in a cell. Screaming and clawing at the walls. Tortured and beaten. Weak. Flashes of my time in Slykhelm raced across my vision, one horrible event after the other. Concrete walls, bloody water swirling down a drain, bruised and split skin, the crack of a whip.

I WAS NEVER GOING BACK.

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Oooop. I don’t have too much to say because your gonna wanna read the next chapter. But it feels so good to be writing again after my mini break!

As always, comment at will!

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Thirty-Four: Pull It Out.

Ripping out of his hold, my hand shot out and wrapped around his neck in a bruising grip. Just missing the silver axe that cut between us tearing the cuffs from his grip. Digging my nails into his neck, I lifted him until the toes of his boots brushed the ground. Head tilting at his bulging eyes, I distantly felt the hood of my cloak slide down the back of my head.

A strange light lit his face as I pulled him closer, lips pulled tight in a snarl. Raising my free hand, I stopped the large ball of ice coming at the side of my head and shattered it with the curl of my fist. The man’s eyes widened further and he began to struggle manually. Grinning, I whispered, “If we were alone, I’d peel the skin from your muscle and then the muscle from your bones. Like I did with the last man who chained me but lucky for you we have an audience. Can’t reveal the monster beneath you know, people tend to get a little touchy about stuff like that.”

Watching him gasp for air, I suddenly lost all interest in giving him a less painful death, “But then again, people have to grow up some time.” Tightening my hand, I grinned wider showing off all my pointed teeth as my palm heated, “Besides, you said it best. ’This is war, there’s no room for kindness.’”

The flesh of his throat reddened and then blistered against the heat I was pumping into his body. As he burned from the inside out, I watched in morbid fascination at the way his eyelids blackened and fell away. With the entirety of the whites of his eyes on display, I noticed the way they began to sweat. Little beads of white rolled over the orange iris slowly until suddenly, like an egg yolk, it popped and ran down the charred skin of his cheek bones.

Something brushed against my shoulder knocking me out of my trance and I blinked at the blackened skull I was holding up by the neck bones. Like a Samhain themed popsicle. Snorting at my own joke, I dropped it onto the black pile of bones at my feet and turned to see what touched me. Lilly stood behind me whirling and cutting down the small group apparently trying to get to me. His axe clanged against the woman who had been speaking to me before he used his other axe to hack off her head in one clean swipe.

Calling my swords to my hands, I dropped to a knee and slid myself right in front of his crotch in time to drive a sword into the gut of a man sneaking up on his right side. Necessary? No. Entertaining? Yes. Glancing up, I caught his eyes for a split second and winked. Sparing me a moment, he shook his head and then suddenly swung his axe down at an angle that scraped against my back. A loud clang that sounded like it was inside my ears rang out and I looked over my shoulder to see his axe holding back a sword that would have impaled me.

“Thanks, Babes!”

Turning on my knees, I whispered to the earth and launched myself at my would-be murderer with my swords pointed out. My knees hit her hips and drove her to the ground as my swords pierced through the flesh of her neck, one right on top of the other. Jumping to my feet, I pulled my swords free of her flesh with a squelch and started slicing at every visible major artery. Blood flew through the air in time with each slash of my sword until a sharp sting across my back distracted me.

Spinning around, I blocked what would have been a large gash across my gut from a double edged sword. With his hand around the bar in between the long red blades, he dropped and spun to swipe at the back of my knee. Turning with him, I used one sword to block the blow and the other to stab through his thigh. Cursing he kicked out and connected with my left hip, sending me tumbling back into the fray.

Annoyed, I slashed across an enemy soldier’s neck and another’s chest before walking back out to face him. On his feet now, blood soaking the leather of his left leg, he panted painfully with his eyes locked over my shoulder. Eyes narrowing, I risked a glance over my shoulder and tensed in raw panic. He was a metal master. I should’ve realized sooner. A few of my soldiers were now dodging weapons and using their abilities to fight back as their weapons hovered in the air far above them. Scanning the small battle field, I looked for the one soldier who had zero abilities to fight back with.

Fear punched right through my gut at the sight of Cillian on his own with three soldiers in purple tunics slashing their swords at him and pelting him with large chunks of earth. Without thinking, I pulled back my right arm and launched a sword at him like a spear. At the same time, I forced my will over my soldiers’ swords and dropped them back into their hands. The redhead’s will broke against mine easily due to his blood loss and I immediately snapped my eyes back over to Cillian. Stopping the sword over their heads, I broke it into three and shot them down with more force than necessary.

I sighed in relief when the soldiers around him hung limply around the spears holding them up. Cillian’s head snapped up and our eyes met across the distance until his eyes suddenly shot wide. Snatching up his axes, he began racing across the distance before disappearing. Anxiety bubbling to life, I spun around to see what he had when fiery agony ripped through my chest. Gasping, I could blindly feel the blade slide through the middle of my rib cage and scrape against my spine as it broke through the skin of my back.

Swords slipping from my grip, I took quick shallow breaths while I carefully tipped my head down. Lifting my hands, I lightly touched the hands holding the blade that was thrusted between my breasts. I meant to push them away or grab onto the blade but the pain lacing my every nerve ending was paralyzing. A light shined off the red handle and glared back at me when a tear drop slashed across the pristine metal.

A hand gripped my chin and forced my head up while they pushed the blade in deeper. Beard bristling the skin of my cheek, he whispered, “Long Live Queen Mab.”

Turning my head, I met his red eyes, “Eat...shit.”

Silver winked above his head and I shut my eyes as blood spattered against the left side of my body followed by the weight of his hand leaving the blade. With the wet slap of his body hitting the ground, I opened my eyes to find Cillian standing in front of me without his mask. Hands raised, he looked like he wanted to help but didn’t know how to.

“Macha.” He breathed, silver eyes flicking between me and the double edged sword sticking out my chest.

I wrestled up a painful smirk as my body swayed, “So…wh-what was that…you were…you were saying about my plan?”

He stepped closer, his face pinched, “You’re going to be fine. I’ll travel you to a healer and you’ll be fine. You’re going to be okay.”

“Divines…you are old. Just s-s-say doctor like everyone else.”

“Yes. I am old. Older than you so I know that you’re going to be fine.” He said, coming to a stop inches from my left shoulder.

Rolling my eyes, I weakly grabbed his closest arm in pain, “We’re not kids…anymore…you-you can’t use that.”

He carefully wrapped his right arm around the top of my shoulders and squeezed my weak hand in his left, “Macha, for once. Please shut up.”

A chuckle left my lips before I could stop it and a sharp pain exploded over my chest once more. Curling in on myself, I spit out the saliva pooling in my mouth with a cough. Though the spit I saw fly in the air was red and not clear. Lowering us to the ground, I cringed painfully while Cillian roared, “Stay back!”

“Don’t…yell. It’s not…fault or…your’s either.” I muttered between coughs.

“Don’t talk, save your energy. I’m going to travel us.”

Lifting my right hand, I placed it against the side of his neck to pull his attention away from the blood pumping out from around the blade with every breath I took. “Look…at me. I’m not-not going to make it if we travel…and you know it.”

“Don’t say that.” He snapped harshly, glaring down at me. “I’ll kill you before I let you die.”

Even in pain, I couldn’t help but furrow my brows, “What the…fuck does that even mean?”

“It means, you’ll die when I tell you you can.”

“Doesn’t…work…that way.” I panted out, blinking away the sudden fuzziness in my vision.

“Don’t tell me how things work.”

“Are-are you really….with me on my deathbed?”

Taking his hand from mine, he gave my face a few taps, “Hey, Hey. I didn’t say you could die.”

Swallowing with a dry throat, I peered up at his blurry face, “Listen…continue with-with the war. Mab…can’t be left on the…on the throne.”

“No, uh. No, I can’t do that.” He replied, his voice hoarse. “I have to get you to the healer so I can’t do that.”

“Lilly…I’m dying. You have too.”

His blurred image shook and he wiped something across my mouth as I coughed again, “No, I don’t because you’re going to be fine.”

“So…stubborn.” I gasped out as tremors of pain rocked through my body. But despite the agonizing pain I was in, I couldn’t help but ask, “Okay. Is-s it just me? Or…is it taking-taking a long time f-for me to die?”

His grip tightened, “What, you want to die on me faster?”

“Re-lax. It’s just that last time I died-”

“The last time you died? What do you mean the last time you died?”

Wincing from the rage I could hear in his voice, I closed one eye and squinted at his blurry face with the other, “I s-see your father didn’t…tell you.”

“Divines damn you, Macha! You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

Sharp pain, like little electrical shocks, shot out in all different directions stemming from the blade in my chest when he accidentally shook me. Wheezing, I tried to tighten my hand on his neck, “That would be you….trying to kill me.”

“I’m-Are you okay? I’m sorry.”

Finally! Some damn sympathy. “Good…do something for…me?”

“Anything.”

“Pull it out.” I urged him in a whisper. My vision had gone completely dark and the pain that had become a new normal was also gone. If I was going to try my theory it needed to be now.

“What? You’ll bleed out in seconds.”

Pulling in a deep breath that my lungs fought to force back out, I said, “If it doesn’t work…I’m dead…either way.”

“If what, doesn’t work? What are you talking about?”

The distant sensation of my hand limply sliding off his neck and falling to my chest, had the urgency of my situation skyrocketing. On three small puffs of air, I forced out, “Pull. It. Out.”

I waited for a few moments but when I started to lose the sensation of my body, I mentally grabbed hold of the Oath he took a month back. The Oath like a live ribbon hummed as I whispered to it about Cillian disloyalty, about how he was going to let me die.

“I can feel what you’re doing and if you’re that serious about it, I’ll do it. Just…don’t force me to kill you. Please.”

With my lungs refusing to move and no other way to communicate, I sent the Oath images of his loyalty these past few months and hoped he felt some kind of comfort.

For what felt like forever, I couldn’t feel, hear, see or smell anything at all. It was like I’d been sucked into the void I had traveled through thousands of times before. I was in complete darkness with only my thoughts for company and a sense of bone deep understanding. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be understanding but when I glanced down it was like I was looking into the life of every individual Faekind. Awestruck, I ran my gaze over every inch of the realm that I could see.

“You’re even more gorgeous in person. That’s obvious, though. You get that from me.”

The deep melodious tone swayed my eyes from the realm below to a pair of familiar blue eyes a shade darker than my own. His tall form was wrapped in a pair of black leather pants, mid-calf length boots and a dark gray long sleeve. Though he was practically larger than life, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the almost identical features of his face. Identical, because I was basically staring back at the male version of myself minus the tattoos.

Folding his arms behind his back, he tipped his head to the right, “You’re quite entertaining to watch, did you know that? Burning that man from the inside out? Very creative.”

“You, your-” I sputtered. “The motherfucker who tried to smite me!”

He grinned and I nearly crawled out of my skin. Is that what people saw when I smiled? It was disturbingly…like disturbingly unhinged. “A parent has to punish their child when they act out, you understand.” He shrugged.

I nodded politely and then cracked my knuckles, “Oh, I understand. I understand that I’m going to kick your old ass all over this galaxy.”

“You could’ve, probably, most likely not, if you hadn’t gone and gotten yourself killed before your transformation.”

“Trust me. I’ll manage.”

He shook his head, sending blue curls bouncing around his face, “We don’t have forever for you to win.” Rude. “That giant of yours has already pulled the blade from your chest so I’ve got to tell you this now.” Stepping closer, his blue eyes began to glow, “Your transformation is coming soon. When it’s complete you will be the most powerful being this realm has seen in eons. You’ve cried, bled and died for this power and there is no one more worthy of it than you.”

Uncomfortable with this conversation, I broke away from his gaze to look over his shoulder. But his voice yanked my gaze back to his, it was like I couldn’t not listen to what he was saying.

“Listen to me, Macha. This is very important. The boy, you can trust the boy with everything you have. He’ll never hurt you. Are you listening to me? Divines aren’t like the other Fae when it comes to mates, we don’t get a choice. The boy is everything you lack and you’re everything he lacks. Two halves of a whole, do you understand? He can help you during your transformation.”

My brows drew together as my chest started to throb, “What are you talking about? All Fae have a choice.”

His hands gripped my shoulders tightly, glowing blue eyes drilling into mine, “No. Not us. Your mother wasn’t my mate but a necessity to bring you into existence. Everything between me and Mab was an act, a lie. My true mate died long long ago. Get it?”

“No- I- what?”

“The boy, Macha. Remember that Cillian is your destined mate. He can help you transform by touching you when it happens. Remember that you have already found your mate.”

And then suddenly, his grip fell away and I was falling as everything rushed up to meet me at once.

Eyes snapping open, I shot up with a huge gasp of air and slapped a hand over where the blade used to be, “Holy fucking shit!”

“Macha!” Hands gripped my shoulders before they slid up to the sides of my face, “Macha, can you see me? Can you hear me?”

Panting, I blinked rapidly and reached up to grab onto his thick wrists.

“Come on, Cell Bait. Say something, anything. Let me know you’re in there.”

Vision clearing, I took in his handsomely chiseled face and his redlined silver eyes. Finally able to speak, I told him what had been on my mind the entire time I was dying, “You are thee most unsympathetic son of bitch I have ever met.”

Eyes shooting to the sky, he murmured, “Thank, Divines.” And then smashed his lips against mine. The kiss was so brief that my eyelashes were still touching my eyebrows in shock when he pulled away and started yelling, “Are you fucking stark raving mad, woman? What the hell were you thinking? No, I’ll tell you what you were thinking. Nothing. Absolutely nothing!”

Ears ringing from his roaring, I scowled and screamed back, “This is how you thank me? I saved your ungrateful ass, I saved everybody’s ass!”

“Yea? Well, nobody asked you to!”

“Oh-ho-ho-ho!” I snapped, feeling my eye start to twitch. “Throwing that back in my face, are we? Need I remind you the last time I was stabbed, it was by your hand?”

“That was practically harmless-

“It was iron!”

“This was not! You died in front of me, Macha!”

Rolling my eyes, I tried to yank his hands from my face, “Yet, here I am! Alive!”

“You died.”

“But I’m alive.”

“I watched. You die.”

“How? If I’m alive?”

His silver eyes narrowed, “You made me. Watch. You. Die.”

“Don’t be so dra-”

“Gaelic.”

Head tilting, I looked up from trying to pry his hands off my face to look at him, “What?”

“You switched to Gaelic half way through our conversation.” He clipped, the muscle in his jaw fluttering.

“Psh. Impossible.” I immediately denied, trying and failing to shake my head in his grip. “I never just slip into the old language unless…” I’m in a serious amount of pain, like a dying amount of pain.

Cillian raised an angry brow.

“Fuuuuuuuckkkkk. I died. Again.”

Voice a deep angry rumble, he spit, “You did. And we’re going to talk about how and why this is the second time you’ve died later. Right now, I want to know how.”

“Well, when a Fae’s heart stops beating…” I replied, playing dumb.

He shook his head sharply, “How did you know that pulling the blade out would save you?”

Oooohhh boy. I couldn’t even try to lie my way out of this one, the redness of his lower lash line forcing the truth from my lips. “I had a feeling.”

“A feeling.” He parroted, going dangerously still.

Glancing out the corner of my eye for help, I narrowed my eyes at the soldiers loitering by the tree line looking everywhere but at us. Useless, every single one of them. Just useless. “I can’t explain it.” I told him. “It was like I just instantly knew that I needed to pull that blade out.”

Cillian eyes raked over my face coldly before he nodded and finally released my face, “It’s your god side. It’s been peeking out ever since we arrived at the O’Sullivans and Murphys. I don’t know how since you haven’t transformed yet but it has.”

“How do you know?” I asked, pressing my hand around my chest.

“Your eyes. They turn a very luminous blue, like a pair of torch lights. And I’ve met her.”

Now it was my turn to go still, “You met her?”

“A few hours ago, right before you woke up. We talked.”

“You talked.”

“Yes.”

“Well? What’d she say? Is she a bitch?” I pressed him.

“If you don’t remember it’s for a reason and she’s still you, it’s not a different person.”

Smirking, I leaned back on one hand, “So she was a bitch.”

Flat out ignoring my statement, he went on to say, “When I pulled the sword out of your chest, nothing happened for what felt like a long time. You just layed there not breathing or moving, I even put my ear to your chest and I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. And then just before you jerked up right, a brilliant blue light shined brightly behind your eyelids and chest.”

The blue reflection in the man’s eyes, the blue light on the sword, it all made sense. Looking down, I used two fingers and pulled the rip the blade had caused wide and felt the blood soaked skin beneath. The swirling silver tattoos decorating my skin were harder to see under all the blood cooling over my chest but the skin itself was tender to the touch.

Wincing, I dropped my hand, “I believe it.”

“What about you? What’d you go through in those moments?”

“It was insane, Lilly.” I responded, instantly . “I was- I saw-You’re-” Blanking, I tried to remember what I had seen and heard but every time I tried it slipped further and further away. “I don’t remember, actually. I thought I did but I don’t.”

“That’s alright, Cell Bait. You probably weren’t meant to remember anyways.” He replied, getting to his feet. Holding out a hand, he said, “Let’s go.”

Looking around, I tried one more time to remember what had happened when I was dead. Something was hovering around the edges of my mind, something that felt important but it evaded me every time. Rubbing at my temple, I slapped my hand in his and let him pull me to my feet. Immediately, I lost my footing as a thick dizziness swarmed over my mind and fogged my vision briefly.

Quick to move, Cillian wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled one of my arms over his shoulders while I shook my head to clear it. “What is it? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Giving a heavy blink, I replied, “I’m fine. It’s just blood loss, I’ll be as good as new in a couple of hours.”

“You’re riding with me.”

“No way. We can’t show up to the MacDuffys sharing a saddle.”

“I really don’t fucking care, Macha. You made me watch you die and if you ever do something like that again, I will punish you.”

Head jerking back a little, I gave him a look that he returned and then I gave him a shit eating grin, “You’re really starting to come out of your shell, aren’t you?”

Lilly rolled his silver eyes with a grunt and pulled me forward.

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I would love to hear your thoughts about these chapters! The pace of the book is going to speed up slightly so I’m hoping these were a good way to transition in. Also, it turns out Macha really was talking to her father! Lol.

As always, feel free to comment you thoughts!

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Thirty-Five: Deal, Deal, Deal!

After a brief stop at a tavern to wash up and change, the sight of blood drew a surprising amount of attention, we were slowly making our way through the crowded streets below the MacDuffy’s Estate. Fae seemed to clog the road as they fought to get a look at us passing by. It was a major change from the last two cities we had visited but perhaps whispers of the war had turned into screams.

Cillian had heard from his sister that Afric convinced four more Banshee Dens to join us, apparently they loved the idea of having a Queen who experienced death. And when they heard about my most recent fling with the underworld they had a party in joy. The Death God they’re calling me, I snorted. By the time this was over, I was going to have ten different names.

Eyes rolling over the crowd, I took in the differing looks among the Fae. Some were in awe but others held anxiety and fear in their eyes that I couldn’t fault them for. I was going to be calling their families to fight and probably die for the chance of ripping Mab off the throne. And I’m sure the fact that I failed once before was giving them less than optimistic hopes this time around. I could only hope that news of me being a Divine would boost their confidence in me.

With every step the Kelpie took, Cillian and I had been rubbing up against each other for the past few hours. The worst of my dizziness from the bloodlost was over but he had refused to let me ride my own Kelpie. I could tell that I had scared him and I was willing to allow him to act like this up until we entered the MacDuffy’s Estate. I hadn’t been exaggerating when I told him that the MacDuffy’s wouldn’t even talk about joining my side if they thought I was with someone. The possibility of me joining their relationship would gain us entry and their ear. From there though, the real games would begin.

Chattering from the crowd lessened as we rode up to the thick black bars fencing in the Estate on all sides. Soldiers in dark green tunics with brown leaves swirling across the front yanked the gates open to let us pass through. The instant Cillian’s Kelpie stepped into the Estates courtyard the atmosphere changed. Cold and misty morning air turned into a humid heat that was starting to make me wish I’d worn a sleeveless tunic.

Thick green grass muffled the clop of the Kelpies hooves as we moved further into the courtyard. Unlike the other Estates, this one was more modern and resembled large houses found in the human realm. Large stone pillars lined the front porch with long rectangular windows placed strategically between them. It wasn’t long after we stopped that the owners of the house came waltzing out with bright smiles.

Countess MacDuffy had her long light brown hair pulled up into a messy bun that drew attention to her unnaturally wide emerald eyes. More conservatively dressed for a Nymph, the sundress she wore made out of orange brown leaves stopped at mid thigh. Her mate, a few inches taller than her five five height, wore a pair of tight leather pants and a loose cotton shirt. Together they looked like they belonged on the cover of one of those smutty romance novels. Especially, with the way he had pulled his dark green hair back into a low ponytail.

Giving them a smile, I turned my head to the right to hide the words I murmured to Cillian, “Do not. Fuck this up, Lilly. Follow my lead.”

He didn’t reply of course, but I took the brush of his hand over my thigh as he dropped the reins to be an agreement.

I waited for him to dismount first before throwing my leg over and dropping to the ground. Tugging my sleeves up to my elbows, I walked around and towards the MacDuffy’s with a smile. Sorcha bounded down the porch steps and then raced across the grass to me with a squeal. Don’t do it. Don’t do it, I thought watching her bare feet practically fly over the grass. But she did, she did do it.

She was two steps away when she launched herself at me, arms and legs folding around me in a tight hold. With her entire curvy little body molded against mine, I winced internally from the way her chest crushed my freshly healed one. The warm heat of arousal pumped through my veins where her skin touched mine, her allure working hard to tear apart my resistance. Giving her a couple pats on the back with a fake laugh, I turned my head in time to avoid a kiss on the lips.

Loosening her arms around my neck, she leaned back in my hold to give me a sunny smile, “Macha, it’s so good to see you!”

“You too, Sorcha.”

“I love your tattoos by the way. Me and Loch didn’t think it was possible for you to get any more tempting but we should’ve known better.” She purred, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Well, you know me,” I shrugged, gently pulling her away to place her on the ground. “I do love proving people wrong.”

“That you do, Macha. You’ve been proving us wrong for a long time.”

Cringing internally, I turned and smiled innocently at Loch, “You really should be careful, Loch. I hear bitterness leaves agelines.”

His green brows pulled together for less than a second before smoothing out just as fast, “Who’s your masked man?”

“Yes,” Sorcha added, slipping an arm around her mate’s waist and shooting a look over my shoulder. “I’ve been wondering as well. He’s gaze is…piercing.”

Cillian had been standing right behind my left shoulder since the moment I set Sorcha back on the ground. The heat of his body against my back was reassuring, like he was telling me that no matter what I did he would always be right behind me. Which was why I decided to skip the part of my plan where I humored their obvious advances. Though it was probably more uncomfortable for me to go through than it was for him to watch. And I know he had to feel some level of discomfort because of that kiss he planted on me a few hours ago. Yea, I hadn’t forgotten about that.

Turning, I placed a very visible hand on Cillian’s shoulder and leaned into his side as I grinned at them, “This would be my Acolyte.”

The minuscule amount of tension in the couples faces disappeared and Loch held his hand out to Cillian, “Ah! Very nice to meet you. I’m Loch and this is my mate Sorcha.”

Cillian glanced down at Loch’s offered hand before looking back up at him with no intention of shaking his hand.

For my own amusement, I said nothing when Loch let his hand hang in the air for a few moments. Dropping his hand, he stared back at Cillian and then cut a glance at me.

Raising a hand as if to hide my mouth from Cillian, I whispered loudly, “He’s not real big on pleasantries or talking.”

“Wait a minute, you said Acolyte?” Sorcha questioned. “I’ve read about them in the Divine literature. Don’t mind him, Baby. Acolyte’s are like mute monks, some are even castrated to be more efficient. Poor thing’s probably just frustrated.”

Skin prickling at her words and the laughter that poured from their smug mouths, I chuckled with them. “Actually,” I interrupted, slipping my hand down and giving Cillian’s crotch a healthy squeeze. “All his body parts are intact. And unsurprisingly, like the energy he radiates, it’s big.”

The couple blinked before Sorcha clapped her hands and grabbed her mate’s arm with narrowed eyes, “Brunch?”

“Do you have chocolate pastries?”

“We can get the chef to scrounge some up for you.”

Scrunching my eyes with a fake smile, I replied in the same falsely bright tone, “Then brunch sounds lovely, Sorcha.”

The minute their backs were turned I rolled my eyes with the power of a thousand ancestors. Divines, I forgot how exhausting they were. Did I look like the type that did brunch? I mean…maybe after a battle…Now that I thought about it, that would be nice. Maybe I could convince Kaiya to brunch with me? I wonder if she’d like Gnome meat…

“Eh-hem.”

“You’re right. That’s a horrible way to treat a bestie. I’ll bring her a brucks bear.”

“Eh…hem.”

Pulling my eyes away from the Estate, I looked up at Cillian, “What? And again, you are not supposed to be talking.”

Staying silent this time, he tipped his head to look down exaggeratedly.

Following his gaze, I looked at my hand that was still grabbing his crotch, “Well, would you look at that.” Releasing him, I asked, “Do I need to apologize for the inappropriate touch or are we okay?”

Silver eyes stared into mine before I got the distinct feeling that he was calling me an idiot.

“It was a genuine question, Dickhead. Excuuuse me for being a decent Fae for once and asking.” I snapped, embarrassed for even caring. Turning to face my soldiers currently still in the process of dismounting, I called out to them, “You fought hard last night. Come inside for brunch.”

Spinning on my heel, I stalked over the thick lawn and straight into the Estate. The white marble of the flooring contrasted beautifully against the light blue wall paper with white butterflies scattered about. The foyer branched off into three separate directions, the rooms on either side of me and the hall leading further into the house behind the stairwell. And since the sound of pots and pans rang out from behind the stairs I chose to head in that direction.

Leather boots slowly thumping against the marble, I confidently entered the large open kitchen slash dining room. Five little Brownies buzzed around the open kitchen, flinging batter and tossing utensils as they went. Working on old stoves and ovens, they looked like they were having a blast while still managing to get unburned food onto the tables. Beyond them in the dining room sat an extra long rectangular silver table with chairs lining each side in even rows.

Plates, utensils, and cups of silver were placed elegantly in front of every seat. Even I had to admit that the setup was done wonderfully, the change from butterflies to leafy branches on the blue walls was a nice touch. It was obvious from the decor and the Brownies whizzing by to place plates on the table that Loch let his Nymph rule the home. It was interesting to see since the last time I had seen their home it was red and black with a deep base thumping through the walls.

“This way, Macha. Your soldiers can dine here while we bunch on the terrace.”

So posh. Nodding, I gave my soldiers the go ahead before walking through the sliding glass doors that lead to the terrace.

The way they were waiting for me was almost laughable. The couple sat on one side of the table with an empty white chair between them and another across from them. Smiling, I took slow steps around the table to place a hand on the back of each of their chairs. Looking from one to the other, I gave their smiling faces a wink before grabbing the empty chair. With it in hand, I straightened up and dragged the chair noisily over the tan stones to the other side of the table.

Still smiling pleasantly, I took a seat and then patted the chair beside me with my eyes on the couple, “Sit, Acolyte. There’s no danger here.”

Loch’s smile tightened at the corners, “How was Slykhelm, Macha? I heard it was…unpleasant.”

“Thanks for asking, Loch.” I mocked happily, reaching for a chocolate drizzled croissant. “I had the time of my life. Really got in touch with my artistic side, you know? You wouldn’t believe how long it takes to skin someone alive. Truly, a lost art form.”

“How…informative.” Sorcha replied, buttering a perfectly round pancake. “So, we hear you’re a Divine now? Is that true?”

Knocking the croissant out of my hand, Cillian replaced it with a plate of fluffy waffles topped with fruit. Shooting him a look, I told them, “Yea, turns out this bastard has a rich heritage. Though, the thought of killing my parents is very appealing.”

“But your father’s already dead…”

Meeting Sorcha’s eyes for a second, I flicked a glare up at the sky, “So they tell me.”

“Not…that we don’t love seeing you Macha but are you well?”

“In what sense?” I asked, staring down at the untouched waffles. For the past week, I’ve dealt with Cillian putting together my food like he had just done. But this…this was too much, I hadn’t had chocolate in a week. A week.

“What do you mean?”

Picking up the utensils, I started to reluctantly cut into the fluffy stack, “Are you asking if I’m physically or mentally unwell, Sorcha?”

“Just in the general sense, I suppose.” She replied, her voice pitched higher than usual.

Smiling at her, I speared a piece of fruit and waffle. “Then I suppose, I’m generally unwell. Though I would be better if someone would allow some damn chocolate in my diet.”

Catching my pointed look, Cillian rolled his eyes and grabbed the chocolate sauciere before stopping to look at the MacDuffy’s.

“Oh, for fuck-” Cutting myself off with a huff, I snapped, “Is that pure chocolate or the sugary kind?”

“Does it matter?”

“I don’t know, Loch. Would you like me semi-stable or completely impulsive?”

“It’s the pure stuff.”

Grinning, I turned to Cillian, “Drown it.”

Mesmerized, I watched Lilly tip the sauciere over and spill the rich thick chocolate over the fruit littered waffles. When one waffles little golden squares filled with the stuff, I nudge it to the side so that the next one could get in on the action. Once the third waffle was covered in chocolate, I dipped the piece I had cut into the pool of chocolate on the sides of the plate.

“So good.” I hummed after taking the first bite.

Clearing his throat, Loch interrupted my breakfast, “Why are you here, Macha?”

“And here I thought you guys were happy to see me.”

“We were-are happy to see you but you’re different. More unpredictable.”

Smiling, I gestured at Sorcha with the knife, “You noticed, I knew you did. Otherwise, I would have laughed off at least five sexual comments by now.”

“This is about the war between you and Mab, isn’t it?”

“It is.” I murmured, allowing them to steer the conversation as I ate.

Scratching at her pale neck, Sorcha placed a hand on her mate’s back while they shared a look. Clearing his throat and straightening out his shoulders, Loch took a sip from his champagne glass before saying, “We had a feeling you’d come by but we’ve decided to stay out of the war this time. You understand.”

“Oh, sure.” I replied, plopping a chocolate coated strawberry in my mouth.

Relieved, Sorcha gave me a huge smile, “It’s just that we’re trying for a baby right now so it just really isn’t the best time for us.”

“Awwww.”

“I’m hoping for a boy and of course, Sorcha is happy with whichever. I am too but I’ve always wanted a little boy.”

Cutting another piece of waffle, I raised a brow as I looked up at them, “Babies are cute. Especially the chubby ones.”

The couple laughed and then Loch reached across the short table to place a hand over mine, “We’re so glad you understand, Macha. And just because we can’t join in your war doesn’t mean that we won’t support you after as your loyal nobles.”

“Of course, I understand.” I laughed, setting down my utensils. “I understand that none of what you just said has anything to do with me.”

Growing still, Loch pulled his hand off mine as Sorcha spoke hesitantly, “What-What are saying, Macha?”

“What I’m saying, Sorcha. Is that I don’t give a fuck if you’re trying to have a baby. Quite frankly, I have much bigger things to worry about. Like the future of the realm sized things to worry about. So, it’s really cute how you’re both sitting here trying to tell me how things are going to go.”

Speechless they blinked at me for a long second before Loch jumped to his feet, “How dare you speak-”

Sighing, I fell back against my chair with a heavy roll of my eyes, “Sit down before you lose your head, Loch. Honestly, he’s just waiting for you to twitch.”

The skin of Loch’s tan throat rolled with his swallow against the sharp, and still kind of bloody, silver axe Cillian held against his throat. A tense moment fell over the table where nobody but me, who had restarted eating, moved. Knife scratching the metal plate, I had lifted a piece of fruit to my lips when I caught sight of a wiggling vine. Pausing with the fork at my lips, I tipped my head as I watched it grow thorns and slither towards Cillians boot.

With a mental whisper, I broke through the will controlling it with an almost auditable snap and urged the vine to lash out at it’s previous wielder. The vine rose up and sped towards Sorcha, snapping at the air inches away from her skin. Yelping, she pressed herself up against the back of her chair as I laughed.

Noticing his mate’s distress, Loch broke eye contact with Cillian to turn and check on Sorcha. After running his hands over her arms with murmured words, he turned to glare accusingly at me, “Why are you doing this? We’re friends.”

“Ah, I see. That’s where everything went wrong!” I exclaimed in understanding. “You made the mistake of thinking that because I humor you, we’re friends.”

When a thick silence fell over the table once more, I took it as a sign for me to continue talking, “Listen, you have two very simple options.”

“Which are?” Sorcha snapped.

Looks like little Mrs. Sunshine has left the building. Shrugging, I said, “One, you commit your men to my army without having to fight yourself. Or Two, I crush you like the little snakes you are, before, during or after the war.”

Loch’s eyes narrowed, “Those are simple to you?”

“Ummmm,” I hummed, pretending to think about it before grinning. “Yes. Either way, there’s no way in hell you two are going to reap the rewards after sitting on the sidelines. So what’s it going to be?”

“You’d really kill us?”

Looking into Sorcha’s wide doe eyes, I cackled, “Oh, Babes. I wouldn’t even give it a second thought.”

Sharing a look, the MacDuffy’s turned their backs to us to whisper back and forth for a few minutes. Ignoring their little talk, I went to grab one of those chocolate drizzled croissants again when another fork speared it to the plate. Eyes shooting up at the culprit, I narrowed my eyes at his silver ones and tried taking the pastry again. He shook his head and held out a glass of water for me to take.

Dropping my fork, I took the glass with pout and sank back into my chair.

“Okay, fine.” Loch announced, turning around to face us. “We’ll commit our men to your war for thirty thousand gold pieces.”

Jumping forward in my seat, I purred, “So, you want to deal?”

“Yes.” Sorcha hesitantly replied.

Tapping my fingers on the table, I felt a heady sense of power rush over me as I stared at the two. Cocking my head to the left and then to the right I tried to understand how I felt so sure about what they wanted. It was just something that I knew, like how everyone knew not to climb inside the oven or how to bite an apple and not lick it. It was instinctual.

“Your eyes are-”

“Glowing? Yea, they do that. Perks of being a Divine, I guess. Now-” Folding one leg underneath me, I swiped the plates to the floor with a crash and practically laid on it as I leaned towards them, “-how about I tell you what you really want in exchange for your soldiers but if you back out, everything you have is mine.”

“How would you even know something like that?”

Grinning, I mocked, “Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?” And then, when they took too long to answer, I sing songed, “You know you wannnt tooooo.”

Loch was the first to break, “Fine.”

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

At his agreement, I felt an intoxicating rush of power thrumming through my veins. Closing my eyes at the feeling, I soaked it in before opening my eyes to look at Sorcha, “What about you, Babes? You in?”

Her eyes shot from me to Loch and then back again, “Deal.”

“Deal, Deal, Deal!” I cackled, falling back into my seat. Drumming my hands on the table, I was bouncing with energy, “Who wants to go first? Never mind, I’ll choose.” Pressing my hands together, I pointed them at Sorcha with a grin, “You want to continue your swingers lifestyle, baby free.” Pointing at Loch, I continued, “And you want to settle down with a few babies, no more swinging.”

It took less than three seconds for the couple in front of me to turn to each other and start arguing.

“I can’t believe-”

“You knew what species I was-”

Chuckling, I snatched the croissant dangling off the fork in front of my face and shot a wink at Lilly, “Damn. I’m such a good problem solver.”

———————————————————-

Some treats for your Halloween! 🎃👻

I know it’s not three chapters but these two are almost double the normal length of my chapters, so hopefully you don’t feel cheated. I feel like Macha just radiates chaotic energy, do y’all agree? Lmao. I actually really liked this chapter, it felt fun and whimsical. Although, I did almost name Sorcha, Karen because that’s the vibe I was getting off her.

As always, feel free to comment or like!

Happy Halloween, Verbage🎃👻

Chapter Thirty-Six: Better Than Chocolate

Dawn fell over the MacDuffy’s wildly but well maintained backyard. A large pool lined with gray and brown stones sat in the middle of their yard an equal distance from the Estate and tree line. Brushes and clumps of wavering flowers sprung up sporadically over the available empty space in bright splashes of color. Hand gliding over the metal handrail, I made my way down the stairs from the terrace to the yard.

Half my soldiers floated leisurely on the surface of the pool while the other half were hidden in the trees standing guard. Cillian had left about an hour or so after brunch, apparently his father needed to tell him something important. Important enough for Cillian to go wanting to see the proof himself, though he gave me a mile long list of do’s and don’ts. At this point, I don’t understand why he still bothered trying to get me to do things his way while he wasn’t here.

Don’t leave the Estate alone, Macha. No more chocolate, you can eat real food now. No, Cell Bait. You cannot continue freaking out the MacDuffy’s, they get it, I mocked mentally with a huff.

Hefting the heavy sack of raw materials up higher on my shoulder, I ripped a chunk of chocolate off the candy bar I forced the cooks to make for me. I don’t know who gave me more grief, the cook or Grumpy when I showed up at the mine. Although, Grumpy only caught sight of me for a brief second before I finished filling the sack. His gray face took on an ashen color that couldn’t have been healthy for his species.

The heels of my boots clipped over the winding cobblestone path that fed into the thick tree line. A calmness settled over me as I entered the Estates forest grounds. It was obvious that Sorcha spent a lot of time in these woods. Her energy was thick between the branches and hummed in the very ground beneath my feet. Without a doubt I knew that nothing went on in these woods that she didn’t know. Which was why, I wasn’t planning on doing anything where she could feel it.

Stepping off the cobbled path, I pulled the chains from around my waist and flattened them into a large square. Lowering the metal, I placed a questioning boot on top of the square and then the other. Having never done something like this before I was skeptical that I could even do it but it seemed that I could still surprise myself. Jumping and landing heavily back on the floating metal, I laughed a little before sinking into a cross legged position.

Opening the sack, I poured the fae metal filled rocks across the minimal space left in front of me. Stuffing the empty sack under my left leg, I grabbed hold of a chuck of rock and pressed it between my palms. Elbows pointing out to the left and right, I squeezed the rock as I pushed my will into the metal inside it. A cool heat stemming from my chest pulsed down my arms and into the metal. Increasing the pressure of my hands, I felt small pieces of rock flaking off in the gaps between my hands and the metal.

When I felt the cold silky sensation of uncut metal pinch my skin, I loosened my grip and pulled my hands apart. Little pieces of rock tumbled from my hands to the metal beneath me but the real treasure sat in my left hand. About the size of a large roughly cut marble, a beautiful little chunk of shiny blue metal winked up at me. Smiling softly, I reopened my empty sack and dropped the little nugget inside. Proud, I turned my head back to the pile of unspecial looking rocks with a dimming smile.

One down, fifty three more chunks to go.…

………………

Hands trembling, the freed little chunk of metal rolled out of my grip to hit the metal square I was barely still managing to float on with a faint ping. Panting, I picked up the last rock with shaking arms and wiped the sweat trailing down the side of my face. There was a reason I only had the amount of blue metal that I did. It was enough to create any weapon I might need but it took me over two weeks to make. I had to exert my will over and over again at full capacity to first pull the metal from the rock and then infuse it with the power of my will.

Having this kind of metal was like having a forged piece of your will in your hands. That was what made being a master at metal so difficult, you needed to have enough willpower to change the natural state of the metal itself. And even if you could do it, it was draining and taxing on your strength. I didn’t care how strong someone was, you needed time to make this much personal metal. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of time and the rewards that came with the creation of this metal was too great to wait. Like the fact that only I could command this metal.

Temples pounding, I squeezed the last rock between my hands and held tightly to the will I forced into it. My will should regenerate back to full strength within the next two days but it isn’t wise to leave yourself completely drained. Even I knew, and actually listened to that rule. Eyes squinting from my exhaustion, I ignored the pulsing in my arms to focus harder on the rock in my hands. Finally feeling the metal practically pierce my palms, I let it go just as the silver metal under me dropped to the ground.

With labored breaths, I gathered up all the different sized chunks of metal into my sack before shoving myself up onto my feet. Looking down in dread, I sucked in a huge breath and barked a mental order for the silver to fall back into chains. For a second nothing happened and then it slowly morphed into what I had ordered it to. Falling into a squat, I snatched them up off the ground and leaned against a tree to stand back up.

Brown sack dangling from my grip, I shuffled my way back to the cobblestone path. Muffling my yawn with a hand, I straightened my back and took firmer steps the closer I got to breaking through the tree line. The oppressive humidity made it feel as if I was dragging my feet through a thick sludge. With every blink feeling heavy and forced, I pushed myself at brisk pace through the backyard and into the Estate. The people I passed were a blur of color as my entire being was focused on getting to my room.

Tightening my hand around the slipping sack, I turned left down the third hallway I entered and beelined straight for the blue door. Sorcha and Loch had had our doors conveniently painted the same color of our hair to make it easier for us to find. To my disappointment after the initial argument between them, they had a very deep emotional talk where I somehow came out as the savior of their relationship. How they got to that conclusion, I wouldn’t even know where to fucking begin.

Twisting the knob, I pushed my way into the room and slammed the door closed behind me. Dragging a chair from the nearby desk along the wall, I shoved it up underneath the door knob. After making sure it was sturdy, I threw the bag of blue metal near the bed where it slid half hidden underneath. Grabbing the hem of my tunic, I yanked it up and over my head to fall with a rustle to the floor.

The next to go were my boots kicked off the side followed by the slap of my leather pants and chains hitting the marble. Bare feet freezing to the chilled floor, I quickly tiptoed to the metal tub in the furthest corner of the lavish room. The marble tub was held up on golden hawk feet, it’s metal claws digging into the white pearly surface of the floor. When I reached the literal claw foot tub, I dropped a hand into the room temperature bath water and waited.

In my tired state, I brought images of heat and warmth to the forefront of my mind. A languid heat like the kind you felt against your skin after a cold shower rolled down my arm to my hand. Holding it in the water, I braced my other hand against the tub and blinked against the fog of fatigue threatening to drown me. It was only when I felt the heat coming from both my hand and the water that I plopped myself down into it.

Sighing at the feeling of relief coming over my old bones, I ignored how water sloshed over the sides and sank up to my neck in the hot water. Laying my neck back against the curve of the tub, I allowed my head to slightly hang off it and placed my hands on the sides. Settling in, I closed my eyes and relaxed every muscle in my body until I couldn’t feel the difference between me and the water. Clearing my mind of everything except the deep rhythm of my breathing, I didn’t fight against the sleep drifting over me.

What felt like minutes later, my eyelids fluttered open and I felt completely re-energized. Raising my arms, I gave a full body stretch that had my toes and fingers flexing. Yawning, I sat up straighter in the tub and lazily gazed out the window built at just the right height to give me a beautiful view of the backyard. I could get used to this, I thought until my view was suddenly blocked out.

“Is this going to be a regular thing with you?” I drawled, feeling absolutely no urge to rush out or cover myself. This was my assigned room and my tub, damnit.

Turning on his heel, Cillian pulled the thick orange and red designed curtains closed before facing me again, “He’s impossible!”

“Despite how you’re ruining yet another one of my baths, I’ll bite. Who’s he?” I questioned, reaching into the little basket hanging off the side of the tub.

Shoving his hood back, he pulled his mask off and threw it on the bed, “My little brother, he doesn’t listen. He won’t listen to my Father and he ignores everything I tell him.”

Pausing in my rummaging, I looked at him with furrowed brows, “Syrus? I can’t imagine him refusing to listen, he’s the most open minded and peaceful person I’ve ever met. The total opposite of you, now that I think about it. Where is he by the way?”

“You met him once almost two thousand years ago and he’s off in the human realm running some relaxation retreat. He doesn’t get involved in anything violent but I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about Baris, Bria’s twin.”

“Ahh, Okay. Do go on. What is Baris not listening to you guys about?”

Putting his hands on his hips, he started pacing in front of the tub, “The little idiot is getting more and more involved with this female soldier from Mab’s army. To the point that he told her something he shouldn’t have.”

“What did he tell her?” I asked, going still.

Sighing, he stopped pacing to give me a look, “You’re not going to like it.”

“What exactly am I not going to like, Lilly?”

“When you told my father about how you found out about Mab draining Fae of their magick, he asked me to look into any missing Fae. But I couldn’t find any records of missing Fae since after you were imprisoned. My father found something and he mentioned it to Baris-”

Rage and despair dropped over me like a dark cloud, “She’s still doing it, isn’t she?”

“My father asked Puck to question his inside man about it and apparently there’s been whispers of Fae going missing in some of the far off villages but whenever it’s brought to their Chief, it’s the last anyone hears of it.” He replied, slowly.

Nodding, I let myself fall deeper into the tub until the water was just underneath my eyeline. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling at the moment. The rage and despair was obvious enough but it wasn’t overwhelming to the point that I wanted to lash out. It was different from how I had felt before. I still felt a hefty amount of guilt for not stopping her when I had the chance but I also understood that there was nothing I could have done for all those poor Fae. I was in prison at the time and-and-not everything my mother did was my fault.

Cringing at my last thought, I peeked around the room waiting for the ceiling to fall on me. But instead, I felt okay. Pretty soon, I was going to finish what I started all those centuries ago and Mab would no longer be able to hurt anyone else. It wasn’t like I had been or am sitting around on my ass while innocent Fae were being killed. I paid ten times over for the unforeseen consequences the Fae had to face when I was sent to Slykhelm and now, I’d make it up on them.

“I want a small group of Trolls stationed at each of those villages. Five should be good enough.”

Eyeing me, he cautiously approached, “Is that all?”

Thinking about it, I felt moderately upset so I said, “Yup. Now, continue with your rant about Baris. I’m intrigued.”

It took him a moment and then he was back to pacing, “I honestly don’t know what goes through that kids head sometimes. Why would he tell some girl he just met about the missing Fae? Doesn’t he understand how serious this is?”

“How old is he?”

“Almost eight hundred.”

I waved a dismissive hand, “He’s just a boy. Let him show off to his crush, there’s no harm in what he told her.”

“That’s not even what I’m annoyed about, Cell Bait.”

“Then what are you annoyed about, Lilly?” I sighed, getting to my feet.

Smirking, I watched him completely stop and stare as I climbed out of the tub. Leaning back over it, I rang out my hair and raised a brow, “You were saying?”

“You know what, how about we talk about you!” He snapped, ripping his eyes up to mine.

Alarm spread through me as I gave him my back and walked at a perfectly natural speed towards the dresser, “No, that’s okay. I don’t really like to talk about myself.”

“Since when?”

Jumping back as he suddenly popped into existence before me, I gave a hesitant laugh and tried to side step him, “You know, where was this speed of yours last night?”

“Don’t.” He bit out aggressively and moved with me.

Raising my hands, I was acutely aware that I was butt naked, “Your right, your right. Cheap shot. But if I could just-”

“When and how.”

“Now and if you’d move further to the right… ”

Something told me that by the way Cillians brows practically became one he was unamused, “The first time you died. When and how?”

“Lilly, why are you constantly asking me questions you know you’ll hate the answers too?” I replied back with a casual smile. “It’s almost like you enjoy being mad.”

Matching me step for step, he said, “Because to not know everything about you is certain death.”

“You give me way too much credit.” I snorted.

Silver eyes flashed, “Answer the question, Macha.”

“And if I don’t feel like answering?” I taunted, rounding the tub.

I almost laughed when he missed a step but wisely held it in as he caught on, “Then it looks like I’ll be punishing you after all.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I gave a mocking shiver, “Oh, I’m just shaking in my skin.”

Slapping a hand on the tub, he lunged forward to grab at me with his free hand. Laughing, I jumped back and slipped past the tub to run towards the door. Hearing his boots thumping behind me, I turned at the last minute and jumped on top of the bed. Bouncing on the mattress, I snagged some pillows and started pelting them at Cillian. Batting them away, he shook his head with a small smile and with another lunge swiped at my ankles.

Yelping, I tumbled back and off the bed to hit the floor before popping back up with a grin, “Come on, Lilly. Replace that weak ass kiss from my memory.”

That did it. His eyes narrowed a second before he winked out of existence and I bolted for the door. Just a few feet away, I was suddenly shoved and pinned up against the wall. A rough hand slid up the back of my neck to tightly grab a hand full of my hair and yank my head up to slam our lips together. Unlike the first brief kiss we shared, this one was pure sex and heat. Tipping my head, I parted my lips and gasped at the way his grip on my hair tightened as our tongues brushed.

Rolling my hips against his, he immediately used his free hand to keep my lower body pressed against the cool wall. With the ground dropping out under my feet for a split second, I tensed and then relaxed as my body sunk into the soft mattress. Fabric from the bed and his clothes rubbed against me on both sides creating a friction that made me hyper aware of every scrape. Trying to lift my legs around his waist, I broke away from the intense kiss to huff in frustration when he shoved them back down.

“No.” He husked, authoritatively. “You might control everything, Cell Bait. But in bed, I rule.”

Brows raised and jaw slightly hanging open, I struggled to ignore the desire pounding between my legs at his words. Swallowing, I shrugged as nonchalantly as one could in my situation, “Y-yeah, sure. We can-we can try it your way.”

And damn it all, if I didn’t almost cum in shock at the grin that crawled over his handsome face. I didn’t though, fuck that. I clenched down and fought it away as hard as I could. He already had a big ego, I couldn’t imagine how he’d act if I actually did. But that line of thinking went straight out the window when I felt something soft wrapping around my wrists. Blinking up at the bare muscular chest hovering right above my face, I tipped my head back and arched my back to look.

Using a long piece of black cloth I’m assuming he ripped off his tunic, Cillian was busy tying my bound wrists to the metal headboard. Heat pooled between my legs and caused everything down to my toes to tighten. My heart picked up speed in excitement when he finally finished and shuffled back down until we were face to face. Giving an experimental tug, the cloth was tied comfortably around my wrists but secure enough to hold me.

“Now would be the time to back out, Cell Bait. Because nothing about this is going to be loving or gentle.”

Panting a little in my extremely sensitive state, I winked and wiggled my hips, “Good. Neither am I. ”

Silver eyes growing hooded, he leaned back on his right knee and grabbed my hips to flip me over onto my stomach. Grinning, I pushed up on my knees and stretched my arms out flat across the bed. My flip twisted the cloth causing it to tighten around my hands but I just curled my fingers into the sheets and arched my spine. With shallow pants, I felt the bed shift and the rustle of leather from somewhere behind me.

Feeling his calloused hands run down the sides of my back and over my ass, I remembered something important as I felt the heat of his skin, “Condom.”

“Already on.” He replied, fingers curling around my hips.

Shivering, my entire being followed the trail of his free hand brushing against the back of my left thigh before it dipped between my thighs. The pads of his fingers slid over the delicate skin of my entrance twice before he sunk both fingers in deep. There was a slight discomfort that had me drawing in a breath and holding it as I squeezed around the intrusion. Fingers digging deeper into the mattress, I arched my back deeper until I couldn’t and waited for him to move.

Instead of moving, he withdrew and that’s when I felt something else nudging against my core. Breathing out, I relaxed and tried not to tense at the intense pressure and pleasure as he slowly pushed inside. Fingers flexing against the sides of my hips

By the time we were pressed hip to hip, I was panting with my forehead pressed against the bed and covered in a light sheen of sweat. Biting my lip, I choked down a cry as he pulled back and buried himself back to the hilt with a hard thrust.

Like he had promised, he started up a hard rhythm that jolted me forward a little with every thrust. And in the position that I was in, there was nothing I could do but take what he was dishing out. Tightening down around him at the tension building in my lower stomach, I turned my head to the side and laid it flat between my arms to get a deeper arch in my back.

A sharp slap against my rear followed by the tantalizing sting of pain had me clamping down harder around his length even as I jumped in surprise. “Don’t you dare cum, Macha. Not until I say you can.”

“But-”

“No.”

Fucking hell, I thought as I moaned. He needs to slow down then. “I can’t. Slow down.”

“Your pleasure isn’t yours, it’s mine.” Cillian rasped, punctuating his sentence with a hard thrust. “You rule over thousands of people already Macha and you forget about yourself. Sleeping, eating, sexual relief, it’s all at the back of your mind. And if you let me, I can make sure those things aren’t forgotten. I want to do that for you but while we share a bed, cause this won’t be the last time that we do, there will be no one else. For either of us. Do you understand?”

Throughout his entire speech, his rhythm and the force of his thrusts didn’t stop or change once. And I surprised myself by being able to coherently listen and understand what he was saying. Limbs shaking, I panted, “Yes.”

“I mean it, Macha. Man or woman.”

“I know. I understand.” I rushed out.

One of his hands slid down around my waist to press against my neglected clit, sending a shockwave of pleasure throughout my entire body. “Do you want that, Macha? Do you want me?” He replied, sounding forced.

“Divines, yes.”

“Then cum.”

Letting go, I felt the orgasm that I had barely been holding back crash over me. Wave after wave of pleasure pulsed through my body prolonged almost torturously by Cillians thrusts until he finally gave a shout of my name. Slumping down on top of me, he laid there for a moment before rolling off to the side. Panting, I tossed my limp tired form onto my back and stared up at the red ceiling.

“That. Was. Unbelievable.” I panted. “Why have we never fucked before?”

“Because you were an underaged prisoner the last time we were together.”

“Oh. Right.”

And for an impressive minute we stayed silent before bursting into loud bouts of laughter. Turning my head, I watched the white flash of his teeth and the crinkle of his silver eyes as he laughed. Gazing at him, I couldn’t help but feel that what we did wasn’t just sex. It felt like the start of something long term, the start of something that didn’t scare me one bit.

———————————————————

Welp, looks like I really did give you guys a treat for Halloween. Lol. These past two chapter felt very domestic between Macha and Lilly. And to anyone who had been wonder how she makes her blue metal, hope this was fulfilling answer to your question.

As always, share your thoughts in the comments!

Happy Halloween, Verbage🎃👻

Chapter Thirty-Seven: ‘Last Resort’ Stash

The last two Estates on the list were easy enough to turn to our side. Baron O’Ceallaigh was an old man with a large family who wanted to see a better future for his children and grandchildren. He was actually a very neutral tempered man for a Seelie Fae, his family set my teeth on edge with their cheer but he was alright. I liked him, he was even willing to fight and I was interested in seeing his animal ability in action.

The Walsh’s were a bit trickier to handle than then rest. My information on the amount of soldiers they had was outdated, they somehow managed to collect over fifteen thousand soldiers instead of the five thousand I thought they had. They wanted a seat on the council for their large contribution to the war and I couldn’t disagree with them. I already had Trolls and Banshees on my council, it was time I started adding a few Unseelies. Overall, our last two visits were uneventful but effective.

It became more obvious by the last few Estates we had visited, that more and more Fae were hearing about the war and remembering who I was. Though arriving back at the camp was even more of an eye opener. We had each received a kiss from Sy, located on the hand for me, Cillian and the mated soldiers. But once we walked into camp the sheer number of tents was shocking. We went from a modest couple hundred tents to well over a thousand, the Nymphs must have relocated the trees because even the clearing was larger.

Gazing over the large mass of white and blue tents, I walked through the camp in a trance-like state. Little tendrils of smoke rose up here and there as people got ready for night fall. Dark clouds hovered in the sky above the camp hinting at the rain that was sure to fall during the night. Fae, Banshees and Trolls alike roamed the camp in all different directions. There were even Trolls and Fae speaking casually as if they hadn’t held hate in their hearts for each other just a few weeks ago. It was inspiring to watch but it was the way they all dropped to one knee as I passed that stole the breath from my lungs.

At one point, I had stopped and stared until Cillian discreetly nudged me forward. Leather boots treading over the beaten down grass path between the tents, I turned abruptly to the left. I needed chocolate and I needed it now. Cillian murmured something in my ear about checking on something but I barely paid attention. Feeling hundreds of eyes on me and the way people dropped to one knee…. It was too much, my chest constricted with the new level of pressure I felt.

If I had died a couple of nights ago, I would have damned all these people. They were already labeled traitors by Mab’s kingdom but without someone leading them they’d be picked off like rats. These people were risking their lives to put me on the throne and I almost ruined it by getting myself killed. The responsibility of my position and the lives of these people had already weighed on me but now it was almost unbearable.

Breathing in and out as quickly and as inconspicuously as I could, I flung back the tent flaps and stormed inside the cooking tent. Thankfully, it was empty besides a tall woman in the back corner with long light green hair streaked through with gray. In a panicked state, I barely registered her as I raced to the back cabinet. Dropping to my knees, I yanked open the wooden doors and started rifling through the different sugar-free chocolate products. Chocolate bars, Chocolate powder, Chocolate cookies, Choco Blasts….

No, no, no, no. Where is it? I know it’s in here. Come on, where are you? I needed the heavy duty stuff before I really flipped my shit. Bottles and glass jars knocked together as my searching became more frantic. The ground rolling beneath my knees and the splashing of the lake could be heard, hinting to my impending breakdown if I couldn’t find it. A hand on my shoulder had me throwing myself back against the counter to look up at the person who had grabbed me.

“Looking for this, My Queen?” She asked, holding out a glass jar and spoon.

Snatching them out her hands, I ripped the top off and sunk the spoon into the thick dark double chocolate frosting. Scooping up a generous amount, I stuck it into my mouth with a sigh and dropped my head back against the counter. The ground settled and the splashing from the lake could no longer be heard. Calmer than I had been before, I looked up at the woman only to blink a few times in recognition.

Swallowing, I pulled the spoon from my mouth, “Orlaith.”

Cillian’s mother gave me a soft smile, “My Queen.”

“You don’t have to call me that. You can just call me Macha.” I replied a little awkwardly. “You and Dougal are practically family.”

“Well in that case,” Walking past me, I heard the sounds of a cabinet opening and closing before she came back and took a seat on the floor across from me. Taking the top of the frosting off, she leaned back against the cabinet and put her feet against the one I was leaning on, “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

Snorting in surprise, I shook my head and scooped out another spoonful of frosting.

“I’m serious.” She said, digging into her own frosting jar. “You should be on top of the realm right now. Everyday word spreads about you and the real threat you pose to Mab. Soldiers go out to recruit in villages and come back with up to ten Faekind at a time. Tir Na Nog is buzzing with excitement, so why are you breaking into what Dougal calls your ‘last resort’ stash?”

“Dougals, dramatic.” I chuckled. “I just wanted something different.”

Light green eyes gave me the same stare her son gave me when he knew I was bullshitting him, “Little girl, Cillian Grymes is my eldest son. If you think I don’t see right through your act, then you are sorely mistaken.”

“Lilly was a tough nut to crack as a kid then, huh?”

“Lilly?”

Laughing, I nodded, “I used to call him that when we were kids to piss him off and it stuck.”

“Oh, Divines. And he has the nerve to call Baris, Bear-ass.” She laughed. “One time when Cillian was around two hundred, he came home upset after school and refused to tell us what was wrong. Then the next week he walks through the front door with a big smile, slams a letter on the table and goes to his room. Apparently, a few boys had been teasing him about his odd hair color and Cillian decided that the best way to handle the situation was to knock their teeth out. Does that answer your question?”

“Aggression is his go to.”

Smiling, she asked, “So, this is about my son? What’d he do now?”

“Oh, no.” I shook my head. “Lilly’s been great, annoying but great.”

“Then?”

Sighing, I stuffed a dollop of chocolate frosting in my mouth to stall.

“I’ve got time. Dinner doesn’t start for another two hours.”

Meeting her eyes, I swallowed before muttering, “…fhhnks…”

“Queens don’t mumble, Macha.”

“Fraud. I feel like a fraud, okay?” I spit out, feeling my mood take a deep dive towards shitty.

Scooping out a little chunk of frosting, she tilted her head in question, “Why do you feel like that?”

Staring at the flecks of dirt on my boots by her hip, I responded softly, “I don’t know how much Dougals told you but I’m not angry, bitter or depressed anymore. I’ve made a surprising amount of progress since I arrived here but…Seeing all those different Faekind out there, talking to each other and wearing my color….dropping to one knee for me? I feel like a fraud, they deserve someone better.”

“Like who?”

“I-I don’t know.” I blinked. “Someone undamaged, someone with a better temperament, someone more responsible…just someone else.”

Orlaith hummed, “What about someone who knows the value of a life? Someone who understands what it’s like to be helpless? To have nothing? Someone who’s risen up not once but twice and rebuilt herself? Or how about someone who’s died and come back? Better yet, what about someone who’s open minded and understanding because they know what it’s like to be rejected by a parent and a kingdom?”

“You all give me way too much credit. You don’t know what I had to d-”

“You’re right, we don’t. But you inspire people, Macha. You give them hope. These Faekind follow you because you’re different. They feel like you understand them, that you are fighting for them. They’re here because you’ve suffered like they have. You know what’s like to starve, to feel alone in the word, to feel like nothing you do is enough. You’re a Fae with feelings and faults, you’re not cold and detached like Mab or warm and happy all the time like Oberon. You’re real and relatable. And most importantly, they want someone like them on the throne.”

I shook my head with furrowed brows, “But I’m not like them. I have royal and Divine blood running through my veins.”

“Yet, you’ve suffered more than most Fae ever will in two lifetimes. Your blood has never given you an advantage or perks in life. If anything it’s the reason your life was so difficult.”

“So they want me because I had a fucked up life?” I asked, rubbing at my temple.

Flinging her spoon, I jerked my head out of the way just in time, “Have you been listening to a single word I’ve said? Dougal and Cillian were right. You are thick headed.”

Making a face, I tossed my spoon back at her, “No, I am not.”

“What I have been trying to tell you,” She stressed, grabbing the spoon mid air. “Is that, they want you as their Queen. You, Macha O’Riordian, represent everything these Faekind have gone through in one crazy powerful package. No one is going to fight as hard for them as you will and they know that.”

Pride washed over me and filled my chest with warmth, “Yea! Your right! I mean, I just died fighting for them. Who else would do that?”

“Wait, what?”

“And who else would suffer for almost a thousand years only to escape and try to do what landed them in prison all over again?”

“Very, very few.”

“Exactly!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. “Who else would cash in on deals with sketchy Fae for the good of the war?”

Orlaith climbed to her feet, shooting me a hesitant look, “Maybe we keep that part to ourselves, Sweetie.”

“Thanks, Babes.” I grinned. “You really know how to lift a girl’s spirit.”

Bending down, I picked up her spoon and my lid to screw it back on the frosting jar. Putting the jar in the cabinet to find later, I threw the spoon into the wash bin and started towards the tent entrance.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Surprised, I turned and thrusted my thumb over my shoulder, “Oh, um. I was going to head to my tent, maybe catch up on some sleep.” Or maybe sleep on your son.

“No way, Missy.” She shook her head, long green hair flying wildly. “I have a bone to pick with you since we’re practically family.”

“Would this have anything to do with you avoiding me?” I cringed.

She sputtered for a minute before laughing, “I haven’t been avoiding you. Some days I just get sucked into the reality that my entire family is putting themselves in this war. I know it’s worth it and I know you guys can win but I just get scared for my boys and Bria.”

Nodding, I said, “I can sit the twins and Dougal on the sidelines. Can’t promise Lilly will listen to me, though.”

“Thanks. But we both know there’s nowhere else a Grymes would rather be than on a battlefield. Except for me and Syrus, my fighting days are long gone.”

Stepping back further into the tent, I watched as she drifted around pulling things out, “That’s right. You were the one who taught Lilly how to swing those axes of his right?”

“Since before he could walk.” She boasted, tying an apron around her waist.

Walking closer to her, I feigned interest in the different spices on the counter, “Sooo, you would know if the weight and the feel of an axe is good?”

“Sure would. Why? Are you thinking about switching to axes?”

“No, no.” I murmured, gently spinning a bottle of nutmeg. “But if I wanted to make a pair of battle axes would you be willing to check them out? You know, make sure they’re evenly weighted and what not.”

“Sure but I’m surprised you’re not asking Cillian for help.”

Gazing around the room, I shrugged, “I want a more experienced eye.”

“I see. May I ask what kind of metal you’ll be making these axes with?”

“Just some extra personal metal I had lying around. Nothing special.” I replied, trying to ignore the heat of her gaze.

“The metal of a God?” She gave a low whistle. “You must really like my big headed son.”

Eyes flying to her light green ones, I stuttered, “What-no-I, don’t you have a bone to pick with me?”

She suppressed an obvious smile, “That’s right. It’s time for you to learn how to make those Choco Blasts you love so much.”

“Ooooo, yeahhhhh. I’m not much of a baker or anything domestic really.”

“Little girl, I didn’t ask. You better get over here and learn. I cook you at least twenty of these things a week. It’s time you started appreciating my baking.”

Looking at all the ingredients she had laid out, I swallowed hard and prayed I didn’t disgrace the chocolate.

———————————————————

Awww, poor Macha. Just goes to show that anyone can have their insecurities triggered at any time, no matter the progress made. Also, Macha finally met Cillian’s mom! I didn’t forget to make it happen people, lol.

As always, comment or like to your hearts content!

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Mother’s Touch

Blinking wearily, I groaned at the throbbing pain that seemed to be my whole body. With one eye swollen shut and the bones in my left shin shattered, I didn’t have the energy to lift my head. Staring down at my body, the sight and smell of my own burnt flesh was enough to twist my stomach into knots. The contents of my stomach which had been a piece of plain toast, a scoop of dry oats and half a glass of water lay splatter against the floor below me.

Fearghas had been working me over for what felt like around six hours with all the different elements. He started with earth, battering me with rock after rock before finally slamming one repeatedly against my shin. Next were animals, where I received the delightful experience of being bitten by every kind of animal he could find in the Alaskan mountains. After that was metal and then finally fire, where he turned up the heat in the room until I was dehydrated before burning me.

The one thing he hadn’t done yet was use water or wind, probably because the mother fucker wasn’t that imaginative. Or at least that’s what I liked to think because he sure as hell didn’t like it when I mentioned it. Fearghas had stormed out saying he’d be back with something special for me. Although, how much more special our time together could get? I wouldn’t know. Pictures of balloons and cake that said ‘Kill You Later’ caused me to wheeze out a low laugh.

Pain rickochet through my lungs and ribs like a ping pong ball making it harder to breathe. My arms had long since gone numb from being pulled high above my head in opposite directions. I barely twitched at the sound of the only door in the room screeching open followed by the sound of sharp clicks. With my one good eye, I tried to squint through the curtain my hair had created to see what Fearghas had brought. But my hair was too long and I was too weak to lift my head in curiosity.

The clicks got closer followed by what I now recognized as cloth dragging over stone. A pair of deep purple heels stopped inches from my vomit and the pale feet that wore them made me want to vomit all over again. My tiny exhales became visible as the temperature in the chamber dropped drastically. Chills raised the unburnt flesh of my body but the heat of my rage kept me from shivering. Wrapping my hands firmly around the chains, I took a deep breath and pushed away everything but the rage I felt.

With a new resource of energy, I lifted my head with a grin, “Queen Cunt of the Unseelie, what a pleasure.”

Hard purple eyes narrowed as she looked me over with distaste plainly on her face, “Five hundred years and you still haven’t learned any manners.”

“Spend most of your life in a prison and you find out pretty quick that aggression gets you everywhere.” I replied, forcing a casual shrug.

“I should’ve killed you the moment you took your first breath. Froze you like the little weed you are.”

Rocking forward, I whispered, “Or maybe you should’ve just kept your legs closed.”

The crack of her hand against my cheek had my head snapping in line with my left shoulder. A dull throb started up from the hit as I turned back to her with a laugh, “Divines. Put your back into. You even hit like a bitch.”

Mab’s red lips twisted into a cruel smile,“Why are you still fighting? The people hate you, your so-called subjects hate you. No one is coming to save you.”

“Then it’s a good thing I wasn’t hoping for a rescue.”

“You’re a speck in the history books. You have no loved ones.” She continued, purple eyes calculating. “Your abilities are laughable. A loveless, useless Bastard that never amounted to anything more than a punching bag.”

Feeling my heart spasm, I smirked, “Funny. You forgot how I built and became Queen of an entire Kingdom.”

Purple eyes turned harder than the ice accumulating in the corners of the room, “You were Queen of nothing. A Bastard ruling over outcasts and criminals is not a Queen or Kingdom.”

“Ooo, that hurt.” I mockingly sneered. “Or at least it would if it wasn’t coming from a murdering tyrant ruling over snobs easier to turn than a page.”

We stared each other down until her unruffled facade completely shattered and her hand snapped out to wrap around my throat. Mouth twisting into a cruel scowl, she hissed, “Why do you bother to live? Give in. Beg. And I’ll put you down like the sniveling rodent you are.”

Gazing at her through my one good eye, I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically.

Mab’s purple brows pulled together as she watched me and took her hand away from my throat. An icicle formed in her pale hand but it did nothing to stop my laughter. Not even when she drove it straight into my gut and willed the ice to spread over my bare stomach. My skin turned icy before going numb and then finally settled into a tingling burning sensation that was even more painful than one would guess.

Her icy hands gripped the sides of my face while I continued to wheeze out a laugh. I could feel the skin of my jaw cracking and tightening as it climbed higher. With a film of ice building over my damaged eye, I painfully forced my frozen lungs to work enough to say, “I…refuse…to not…outlive…your prehistoric ass..”

With my expression frozen and ice closing over my good eye, the last thing I saw were her hands coming towards me with a sharp blade of ice before my entire face felt like it was on fire.

Jerking upright with a cry, I shoved blindly at the weight holding me down and scrambled backwards. Hands pressed against my face, I pulled my knees up to my chest and panted against the pain. The skin of my palms brushed against raw muscle that burned at the slightest touch and coded my hands in blood. Shivering at the low temperature of the room, I tried to keep my tangled hair from getting stuck to my mutilated face.

“Macha, it’s Cillian. You were having a nightmare but you’re okay. You’re here with me. We’re in my tent, in your army’s camp. You are not in Slykhelm.”

Eyes staring at the way my blood splattered hands were shaking, I distantly felt the concrete underneath me shift before I started rocking.

A rasp of breath echoed around the chamber, “Can you drop your hands, Cell Bait? If you look around, you’ll see that you’re not in danger.”

Pausing at what the voice was saying, I cautiously looked through the cracks in my fingers to see black fur tangled around my ankles instead of chains. The temperature in the room rose as I turned my head the tiniest degree to the left and saw that the walls were made of fabric. Moving slowly, I raised my head from between my knees and dropped my hands a fraction to see. Cillian sat before me with a calm expression, waiting for me to fall back into reality.

Eyes widening, I looked back at my hands to find them unbloodied and shot off the bed. Breath escaping from my chest in large gusts of air, I sprinted towards the bathing area and ripped the small mirror off the privacy divider. Turning my back to the rest of the room, I held the mirror close to my face with one hand and pressed the other to my skin. Smushing my cheeks and feeling the rest of my skin securely attached to my face, I sunk to my knees in relief.

Sucking in air to catch my breath, I ran my gaze over my reflection continuously until I noticed Cillian in the top right corner. Silver eyes watched me from a few feet behind me, the features of his face were tight and hard to read. Feeling exposed, I couldn’t help my gut reaction and went rigid. Fingers tightening around the mirror, I yanked my eyes from his as the glass shattered. Tossing the broken mirror in a random direction, I got to my feet and walked right past him without a word.

Scanning the room, I stalked over to the desk and grabbed my tunic hanging off the chair. Shrugging it on, I pulled my hair free and fixed the way the tunic landed around my waist. Turning, I looked over the room again and furrowed my brows when I couldn’t see where I’d flung my pants. Huffing, I gave the room another look over but slower in case I had missed them.

“So, you’re just going to leave?”

Stepping back, I peered under the desk, “That is what I’m trying to do.”

“Why?”

“I don’t appreciate being pitied so I think it’s best if I just leave.” I replied, moving towards the right side of the bed.

“I wasn’t pitying you.”

Flipping the furs back on the bed aggressively, I snapped, “I saw your face.”

Snatching up the furs, he pulled them back over the bed from the other side, “That wasn’t pity, Cell Bait. It was frustration.”

“I’m soooo sorry my nightmares are annoying you.” I raged, finally looking at him while ripping the furs back down the bed.

His jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed, “I was frustrated because I thought I’d finally figured out how to stop your nightmares.”

“You were ex-peri-menting on me?” I demanded a twitch building beneath my eye.

Yanking the furs up towards the pillows, he placed a knee on the bed and clearly enunciated, “No. But sometimes you don’t have nightmares for a couple of nights, so I was just trying to see if it was because you slept a certain way.”

“My nightmares aren’t any of your concern, so why don’t you mind your own business.”

“Did you forget you are my business?”

Grabbing a pillow, I threw it at his annoying face, “Don’t make me like you right now, Cillian. I’m pissed off that you think I need to be fixed.”

“I never said that.”

“Well, that’s what it felt like.”

Taking a deep breath, Lilly’s hands flexed around the pillow I threw at him before saying, “I don’t care about your nightmares, Macha. I don’t care that you toss and turn because of them. And I don’t care if you attack me when I try to wake you up, I can handle all that. What I can’t handle is how they make you feel after. It obviously takes a large emotional toll on you and I can tell that you’d wish they’d stop. So that’s what I was trying to do.”

After letting his words sink in, I reluctantly relented. Sighing heavily, I flopped onto the bed with a groan and kicked my legs a little bit in annoyance.“When did you get so considerate while I’m the ungrateful bitch?”

“You’re not a-” Shooting him a look, he continued, “Okay, you are a bitch but you’re also going through a lot right now.”

Snorting, I rolled onto my side to look at him, “I’m sorry for shutting down on you but if you want to try something involving me or my sleeping patterns you need to ask.”

“That’s fair. I guess I’ve gotten a little too used to making decisions for you.” He replied, looking a little embarrassed.

Giving the silver haired giant a smile, I shrugged, “You’re more than welcome to in the bedroom, Your Highness. But just the bedroom.”

“One one condition…It’s ‘Your Majesty’ or nothing.”

Laughing at the way he tilted his chin up snottily, I pushed myself over the side of the bed and started rooting around for what I had stashed earlier, “You look like that no-named butler we met at the O’Murphy and O’Sullivans Estate.”

“You better take that back.” He rumbled.

“No way, No-Named.”

Yelping, I gripped the wooden bed frame with one hand as Cillian tried to yank me back towards him, “Lilly, wait!”

“Not a chance. You’re going to take that back, Peasant.”

Fingers scraping the bottle, I snagged it right as Cillian dragged me across the mattress. A pair of callused hands grabbed my bare hips and flipped me over to face him only to get a face full of brown liquid sloshing around in a clear bottle.

“What the hell is that?”

Wiggling out of his hold, I stood on the mattress before jumping to the floor beside him, “The finest damn chocolate wine you’ll ever have.”

Lilly eyed it like it was going to leap out of the bottle and drown him, “You made this?”

“Mmmhhh.” I hummed, swishing the bottle in his face with a grin. “It was hit and miss the first couple of times I made it but I really got it down after I added a little more sugar.”

“Cell Bait. You don’t cook.” Cillian replied like he was telling me something I didn’t already know.

Bouncing on my toes, I shook the bottle, “But this isn’t cooking, it’s mixing. Try it.”

“I don’t know…”

“Oh come on, Lilly! Just try it! You’ll like it, I promise!”

He eyed me for a long moment but my big grin must have convinced him because the next thing I knew, he was reluctantly reaching for the bottle.

Vibrating in excitement, I jerked the bottle to my mouth, sharpened my teeth and ripped the cork out before pushing it into his hand. Wide eyed and full of anxiety, I watched as he slowly brought the long necked bottle to his lips. Lilly’s silver eyes shot to mine and I motioned for him to take a sip that he took cautiously. Full lips pursing, Cillian’s sharp features contorted at the first taste of the chocolate wine.

“Wellllll, what do you think?”

Licking his lips, silver eyes roamed between me and the bottle, “Are you sure, you made this?”

Punching him in the arm, I snagged the bottle out of his grip and took a delicious sip. Stepping back to keep the bottle out of his reach, I scrambled back onto the bed to sit down cross legged. Following my lead, Cillian took up a criss-cross applesauce position half on top of the furs across from me.

“Alright, it’s good. Now hand it back, it’s my turn again.”

Laughing, I took another swig before replying, “Let’s play a game. For every question answered we take a sip and for every question skipped we take three. You in?”

“Yes. I’ll go first.”

“Okay.”

“How and when did you die the first time?”

Heaving out a huge sigh, I rolled my eyes, “Can’t we just have sex again?”

“Macha.”

“Lilly.”

Huffing, I crawled my way over to his side and smushed the side of his head against my flat chest. With my hand on the side of his jaw, I tipped his head up and answered his question at last, “I did a death deal with Afric. I wish I could say I needed the deal at the time but it was really just for thrills. We were dead for, i don’t know, around ten minutes?”

“Macha, how could you be so-”

Seeing the dip of his silver brows deepening, I lifted the bottle and shoved it between his lips. His voice turned muffled as he drank the sugared wine I was forcefully pouring down his throat. I counted to five and then pulled the bottle away.

“For what possible reason would you think-”

Oop, I thought, putting the bottle back to his lips and patting his head. Not yet. When he took another three sips, I pulled the bottle away and waited.

Blinking hard, he turned his head a little more into my chest to see me better, “Did you say something about sex?”

Laughing, I started chugging to catch up.

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Gotta say y’all….I’m really not liking Mab, not that I did to begin with. That little visit from Mab had even me surprised by Machas strength and wrote it. Lol. Btw, Macha and Lilly reminded me of a college kids in this chapter. They’re so playful, it’s too cute.

As always, feel free to comment on the chapter if you enjoyed it! Silent readers thank you for reading, I appreciate y’all too.

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Retaliation

“Is there a reason you’re looking at me like that?”

“You know why.”

Scraping the sides of the bowl for any traces of oatmeal, I shook my head, “I didn’t do anything to you.”

“Oh, you didn’t do anything to me? I thought we were best friends.”

“We are.”

“Then why,” Dani exclaimed, slapping her hands against the wood. “Did I have to find out you and Cillian were fucking, by catching you sneaking out of his tent this morning?”

Snorting, I kicked my feet up onto the desk, “I didn’t sneak out of his tent. I waved at you.”

“Same thing.”

“No. It’s really not.”

Throwing her hands in the air, she slumped back against the chair, “What the hell happened? Last time we talked you were alright with him and then you go on this week and a half long trip and…what? You’re suddenly in love?”

Taken off guard, I slammed a fist against my chest as I started choking. Hacking up the little piece of oatmeal, I panted, “Love? We’ve slept together, sure. Do we like each other, I’m…pretty sure. Do we trust each other, yes. But love? Gah.”

“Then what’s that?”

Confused, I looked down and then around me, “What’s what?”

Pointing a finger at my chest, she gave me an unamused look, “That gigantic ass diamond that screams ‘I’m special to someone’ hanging around your neck.”

Grinning, I lifted it with the back of my hand so she could see it better, “Isn’t it gorgeous? Lilly bought it for me.”

Gorgeous….Why did that feel so familiar? Like I had said or someone else said something similar…Gorgeous? A faint feeling of deja vu tickled the edges of my mind but I couldn’t quite grasp it…

“Are you listening to me?”

“Huh?” Shaking my head clear, I locked eyes with narrowed pink ones, “Sorry, I had the most random sense of deja vu.”

“I was saying that I was happy for you both. You and Cillian, whatever you’re doing, you look happy.”

Tipping my head, I tapped the spoon against the bowl with a smile, “Yeah, I am. Can’t speak for him though.”

“Oh, shut up.” She laughed. “Bria said she heard you guys laughing last night. I mean, I can’t even imagine Cillian laughing.”

“Aren’t Bria and Puck dating? Why is that girl always nearby at night?”

Dani shook her head, sending pink curls bouncing, “They’re dating but their relationship isn’t sexual. It’s all about the emotional intimacy for them.”

I huffed before nodding, “I could see that.”

“So, back to you and Cillian….What’s he like?”

“Oh no. Go get your thrills somewhere else.”

Pouting, she drummed her hands against the table, “Come on! Throw a mated woman a bone.”

“Isn’t that your husband’s job?” I replied, blandly.

Dani opened her mouth to respond when a shriek of surprise came out instead.

Jumping back and out of my chair, I had a sword pulled and pointed up at the person who had just traveled on top of my desk in a matter of seconds. Grabbing their ankle, I gave it a harsh tug that had their back slamming into the desk and drove my sword down towards their chest.

“Macha, wait! It’s Puck! It’s Puck!”

Sword stopping millimeters away from cloth, I flicked my eyes up to find a pair of wide golden eyes pinned to my hand on the handle of the sword. “Puck?” I snapped, in angry bewilderment. “What the hell are you doing? I could’ve kill you, you fucking walnut!”

Slowly his eyes trailed over to mine as his chest rose and fell rapidly, “Walnut?”

“I don’t know! I’m angry! I almost killed you! You dumb little piece of flower dander!”

“Okay, okay.” Dani interrupted, batting my sword away so she could press a hand to his face. “ Are you alright, Sweetie? You really need to be more careful traveling, especially near Macha.”

Pushing up onto his hands, he swallowed between pants, “Y-yeah. I’m fine. I’m sorry but I needed to get to Macha as fast as I possibly could.”

“Well, what’d you need? Besides giving Dani a heart attack.”

“He did not.”

“Bitch, the entire camp heard you scream.”

Launching himself at me, he gripped the collar of my tunic and shouted, “You need to get to the Dunn’s Estate immediately.”

“What are you talking about? Why? Erick’s there.” I asked, trying to keep my face away from his while also trying to yank him off my tunic.

Golden eyes filled my vision, “They’re all going to be slaughtered!”

Slapping a hand to his forehead and the other across his face, I shouted back, “Make it make sense!”

“Mab heard about what you did to her soldiers on the way to the MacDuffy’s Estate and Aoife has been making a lot of noise about supporting you in the war! Mab’s sending troops to her estate in retaliation!” He rushed, releasing me with a relieved sigh.

Blurting out an ‘Oh, shit’, I called my metal to me as I rapidly pulled my hair back into one long braid. “When, Puck?”

“Now.”

“How many?”

“Around fifty.”

Chains and swords snapping into place on my body, I raced over to the side of the bed and dragged the bag full of metal chunks out. With a barked command, half of the blue metal began slithering up my hands to wrap around my torso in a thick breast plate. Blue metal covered my forearms and once I felt it stop moving, I was stalking back over to Puck.

“Where’d you get this information?”

“My inside man, I came straight here after he told me.”

“And you trust him?”

“With my life.”

Raising a brow, I asked, “But do you trust him with mine?”

“Without question.” He replied firmly.

Nodding, I made for the door, “Tell Dougal to hold things down here and tell Cillian to meet me at the Estate.”

“I don’t know where they are!” Puck called back frantically.

“Then you two better start looking.” I called back as I stepped outside. Pointing at the soldiers stationed on either side of my tent entrance, I barked, “You two, roundup a troop of soldiers and tell them to get their weapons and armor. We’re headed to defend the Dunn Estate from Mab. Meet at the front of camp. Go, go, go!”

The moment they disappeared, I closed my eyes and pictured Afric. My feet left and then hit the ground hard as my concentration was split in my haste to get over to the Dunn Estate. Stumbling a little on the landing, I got my feet underneath me and looked up to see Afric and a few Banshees inside his tent. They were huddled around his desk that had a dead Scrot Squirrel with its belly split open and Afric’s bare fingers inside. Five pairs of identical yellow tinged eyes stared at me unblinkly until four of them dropped to their knees.

“It worked! Our sacrifice to the Death God has summoned her here! What gift will you deliver upon us this day?” Afric cackled, bloody fingers raised to the ceiling of the tent.

With one last wide eyed look at the dead orange furred squirrel that they were apparently sacrificing to me, I blinked and started barking orders, “I need a troop of your Banshees out in the front of the camp and ready to go immediately. Mab sent troops to attack the Dunn Estate.”

“You bring us death and opportunities of glory! Go, brothers and sisters! Collect the worthy and bring them to the front of camp!” Afric shouted causing the four to rise to their feet and disappear into the shadows of the tent.

Without waiting, I closed my eyes and traveled to my next destination as quickly as possible. Hip slamming into something hard, I planted my feet firmly on the ground and gazed around the training grounds. Trolls were scattered about sparing or throwing boulders at one another while Coaimhe watched on from the sidelines. Striding over to her, I side stepped a boulder lifting Troll and dodged another’s wayward throw.

She was halfway turned towards me when I started talking, “I need a troop of your Trolls at the front of the camp right now. We’re going into battle against Mab.”

Instead of continuing to turn and face me, she looked out at the training field and gave a sharp whistle.

I felt the ground shake as they stampeded in before I traveled one more time to the front of the camp. Shaking off the slight dizziness from my unfocused traveling, I waded through the Faekind adjusting their weapons. The Banshees were here along with the Fae soldiers so now we were just waiting on the Trolls. Scanning the area above their heads, I tried looking for a flash of silver anywhere in the crowd.

Where are you, Lilly?

Biting my lip, I tapped my fingers against the side of my thigh and nodded at the soldiers I passed. However when the Trolls came stomping up, the time to wait or look for him was over, we needed to move out. Pushing back up to the front of the crowd, I looked over the large mixed species group with pride. Today their training was finally going to be put to the test and hopefully they’d work together as well as I hoped.

Catching sight of Dani running towards me from the corner of my eye, I turned to face her as she got closer, “What is it?”

“We found Dougal but he said Cillian went to speak with his brother, something about a girl. He’s going to try and tell him what’s going on.”

So he was right about that little brother of his. “Okay, we can’t wait so we’ll have to go in without him.” I replied, brushing my fingers over the pendant he gave me. “Project my voice to the crowd will you?”

At her nod, I turned to the crowd of soldiers buzzing with excitement. Dani pressed her fingers to my throat and raised her other hand to the sky as I cleared my throat. The sound caught their attention and almost instantly I had multiple eyes pinned to me and my every move.

“Listen up!” I called, hardening my voice. “I know in the past our species haven’t been the best of friends. Hell, who am I kidding? We were out right killing each other a few weeks ago.” Chuckles rose from the crowd as interspecies friends nudged at each other. “But in a few minutes, we’ll be sharing a battlefield. So, I don’t care who hates who and who doesn’t like working with who. When we’re fighting, we’re family. I want to see you blocking, killing, backing up and protecting each other like your blood. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Queen!”

“Travel in groups of five to ten to the Dunn Estate and don’t forget to make a trail, a short one this time. Land in the courtyard and have your weapons out when you do. Remember, we don’t know what we’re dropping into. Move out!”

A roar of adrenaline and voices rolled off the crowd before they started disappearing in large chunks. Breaking out from the mass of Faekind, Afric and Coaimhe came walking out towards me. Grinning, I pulled the swords from my sheaths and gripped them tight as they both placed a hand on my shoulders. Closing my eyes, I pictured an old tavern I used to frequent and the moment our feet touched the ground I was already thinking of another one.

When our feet hit the ground on the fifth destination, I told them the next would be the Dunn Estate. Coaimhe tightened her grip while Afric began to giggle and my grin got bigger. The first thing I noticed when we landed was how strong the wind was howling over the Estate. Pieces of the roof went soaring off into the distance as the Estate guards ran around the courtyard trying to get things in order. Raindrops hit the skin like hail from how sharply the wind was ripping across the angry sky.

Dirt turned to mud and I could hear the distant ringing of clanging swords as I jolted into action. Spotting Erick, I quickly weaved my way to his side and demanded, “What’s happening?”

Turning, the General sagged in relief momentarily before screaming over the wind, “My Queen, thank Divines! Mab’s soldiers are cutting through the town on their way up to the Estate! Aoife and her men are getting ready to go down and meet them! Their forces have already hit the houses in the inner city!”

“Where are the people!” I yelled back.

Pushing his soaked hair back, he leaned closer to shout, “In the Monks of Divinity Abbey! Just outside the Estate!”

“On my cue, open the gates!”

Squinting to see through the harsh weather, I trekked through the mud up to the front of the crowd testing their weapons. The energy in the air was rife with anxiety and excitement that was infectious to my own mood. Bouncing on my toes, I twirled my swords and paused for a second in surprise when the tips caught fire. Smirking, I watched the flames race down the blades to the hilts and heat up my cold hands.

Once I was in front of my troops, I raised the flaming swords to grab their attention, “We’re going to rush these sons of bitches! And when we do, I want the Trolls in front, the Fae in the middle and the Banshees bringing up the rear! From there, do what Dougal’s been training you to do and work together!” Satisfied with the way they screamed back over the rain in agreement, I released one of my favorite war cry’s, “No Survivors! No Mercy! No Fear!”

“No Survivors! No Mercy! No Fear!”

———————————————————-

I don’t care what realm your from, dropping in on anyone unannounced can lead to awkward situations. Lol. Also, seems like Macha might be remembering something important…..

Drop a comment or a like if you want toooooo!

Smooches, Verbage💋

Chapter Forty: Launch Me

At the sound of the gates creaking open behind me, I turned around and led the charge down the Main Street of the city to meet the surprised enemy soldiers head on. Ten feet away they raised their shields and formed a barricade as their archers rushed to the houses for cover. Mab’s soldiers looked on with stone faces while the distance between us grew smaller and smaller. Their expressions changed though when our attack began to take on a more strategic approach.

Laughing, I crashed through their front line with the Trolls at my sides. Metal screeched against metal as my breastplate made contact with a female soldier’s shield. Red and orange flames reflected in her eyes moments before I slammed a sword straight through the front of her neck with a sizzling sound. Yanking it free, I briefly watched the flaming head roll across the mud and then lunged towards my next victim.

Ducking beneath the swing of an axe aimed at the side of my head, I slashed up across the males chest and hacked off his weapon’s arm. The black haired male swayed slightly from the sight of his shoulder squirting out blood in intervals before he finally fell. Pushing the hair that escaped my braid off my face with a muddy arm, I casted a squinted look around the battlefield. Trolls ripped apart and smashed Mab’s soldiers into the battlefield while wailing Banshees yanked the purple tunic’d Fae into the shadows.

The other Fae members of my troops were going head to head with the others despite the howling wind and rain. In fact, I noticed most of the water and wind ability fae doing their best to direct the harsh weather at the enemy. Bodies splashed with mud and blood made identifying anybody by hair color difficult. But even so, nobody was cutting into their fellow soldiers which I counted as a win. Mab’s troops were beginning to thin and I was beginning to get bored when I spotted them.

Two male Fae in purple tunics with identical mud caked features hacked into and tossed my soldiers around like rag dolls. The twin soldiers towered over the Faekind attacking them and I just knew they had to have some kind of giant blood in them. A sudden weight against my back had me stumbling forward until I pushed back and spun around. Catching the blue tunic’d body, I snapped my head up in time to see a yellow short sword speeding towards her heart.

Using the forearm guard, I blocked the blow and shot a blue spike straight through his forehead. Not waiting to see the body drop, I righted the female in my arms to a standing position and wiped the mud from her eyes. Dull features. She was young. Concerned at the dazed look her eyes held, I gave her a sharp slap, “Hey! Babes, you alright?”

Nodding rapidly, her sky blue eyes blinked as they took me in, “Yes, My Queen!”

Eyeing the fighting pairs in clumps around us, I gave her a hard shake, “Are you sure? Go back to the Estate! We’re almost done here!”

“I can’t leave my fellow bananas, My Queen!” She screamed over the wind, eyes glazing over mid sentence.

Shit, concussion. Gripping her tunic tightly, I took a closer look at my soldiers fighting around me and saw the fighting had decreased significantly in the last few minutes. A few of my soldiers had even gotten up onto the buildings to shoot down the enemy soldiers trying to travel out. The only soldiers giving us any actual trouble now were the twins and I had every intention of bringing them down.

A flash of metal from the corner of my eye had me throwing up a sword to block us from whatever weapon was being swung our way. Vibrations ran up my arm as metal clashed against metal and something made an extra pinging sound. An iron arrow fell to the mud with a squelch from where it bounced off the crossed blue and silver metal.

Eyes sliding up, I shot male’s soaked and mud splattered form a grin, “You come here often, Babes? Or is today just my lucky day?”

Dropping his weapon, Lilly rolled his silver eyes and shouted back, “Sorry, I’m late! I’ll explain later!”

“All is forgiven if you watch her for a minute! She’s got a concussion and there’s something I’ve been dying to do!”

Shaking his head, he looked the girl over with a frown and then Bria was suddenly standing beside us. “Get her out of here! She has a concussion!”

Without a word, Bria latched onto the young woman’s arm and traveled them both out of the middle of the field.

Turning to me, Cillian motioned for me to lead the way.

Giving him a wink, I took off running in the direction of the twins who were still refusing to go down. The mud underneath my boots turned solid at my whisper and increased my speed. Flipping the swords in my hands to point behind me, I snapped out an order making them into short swords and leaving the extra metal to hover around me. One after the other, I ordered the daggers to fly at the twins drawing their attention towards us.

“Get ready to launch me!” I screamed over my shoulder at Lilly.

A second later his large form shot out from behind me and started creating a good amount of space between us. When he got to a good spot between both me and the charging twins, Cillian twisted around in a low squat and laced his fingers. Baring my sharpened teeth in a large grin at his metal covered face, I pumped my arms and legs harder in anticipation. Booted foot slipping perfectly into his hands, he pushed up using his arms and legs. Leaving his grip, I soared through the air at the perfect height directly at the twins.

Squinting against the wind, I flipped the short swords in my hands and twisted my body to flip mid-air. Feet coming at them first, I grinned at the way they raised their swords only to have them ripped away by a calm demand from me. Mouths open in a roar the closer I got to them, I squeezed my feet together and tilted back the tiniest degree. Perfectly positioned, I rammed into them just how I imagined I would.

My short swords slammed all the way up to the hilt between their eyes as my body slid right between their charging forms. Arms pulling straight, I released my metal to bounce and slide somewhat gracefully through the muddy body laden street. Tumbling to a stop with a laugh, I gazed up at the sky panting out in sheer adrenaline of how amazing that had felt.

After a moment, I sighed out in joy and grabbed onto the hand that was thrusted in front of my face. Straightening up with a groan, I bent side to side and felt relief as my back cracked. Wiping off some of the mud really caked onto my leather trousers, I looked up when I suddenly felt the ground disappear. It lasted only a moment and then I was submerged in a cocoon of warmth.

Blinking, I swung my eyes around the fire lit room until they landed on Cillian’s masked form, “Why’d you bring me here? The battle’s still going on.”

“It’s over, you won. The rest of Mab’s soldiers who were still standing started running when they saw what you did to the O’Conner twins.” He chuckled, pulling off his cloak and mask.

“But I left my-”

He tossed all of our bloody weapons into the corner of the room with a crash, “You were laying in the mud a lot longer than you think.”

“Oh. Well, in that case…” I murmured, skipping up and wrapping my arms around his waist. “How about we get dirty?”

Wrapping his arms around me, Lilly stared down at me for a moment before snorting, “How could we get any dirtier than we are right now? Macha, you have blood on your face.”

Chuckling, I pulled back to look myself over, “What’s wrong with that?”

“You hurt my head when you say things like that, Cell Bait.”

“Since when are you a clean freak? You know now that I think of it, I’ve never really seen you dirty…what’s with that?”

Giving me his back, he pulled his tunic up and over his head before gesturing at the steaming tub I had failed to notice, “Do you want to stand around chatting all day or do you want to soak in hot water? After the way you threw yourself, I know your muscles are crying.”

“Divines. Don’t remind me.” I groaned as the breastplate melted to my feet. Lifting my arms to yank the tunic over my head it became clear that I should’ve released the short swords sooner.

Untying his trousers, Lilly shook his head, “You could have ended that battle in seconds instead of showing off.”

Pointing a finger at him, I said, “That’s where you’re wrong. I could have but the new soldiers needed something to cut their teeth on. I’m also not the only soldier out there who loves fighting so ending it quickly would have been unfair to them. And lastly, I wasn’t showing off. I was dusting off my skills.”

Flashing me a smile, Cillian turned and slid his large naked body into the steaming tub, “It’s showing off because you can’t actually show off.”

“It’s scary how much you know me.” I laughed, shimmying out of my soaked mud covered leather. The second they hit the wooden floor with a slap, I stepped over them and walked over to the tub.

Another round of laughter left me when I saw how cramped Cillian was in the tub. His knees poked up high above the water and his hands resting against the sides were practically beside them. If I tried to climb in there with him…no. No way were the both of us going to fit in that tub. Pressing a hand to the tub, the metal instantly started to stretch and warp causing a sigh of relief to leave Cillian.

Smiling, I walked around to the other side and grabbed the extra pot of hot water. Hefting it up, I waddled two steps forward and dumped it into the tub. A rush of steam rose up and wafted over my face, instantly relaxing me. On autopilot, I stepped into the hot water and sunk down chest deep right across from Lilly. Tipping my head back, I closed my eyes and slipped my feet over his thighs with a groan of pleasure.

“Why are you all the way over there?”

Keeping my eyes closed, I replied, “How else are we supposed to finish what we started last night?” When I felt something brush up against the inside of my calf, I cracked an eye open with a grin, “Not that, you fell asleep before we could finish that. I’m talking about our unfinished game.”

“We didn’t finish either because you got me drunk.”

“I didn’t know you were a lightweight!”

“I am not a lightweight. I just haven’t had sugar in a while.”

Pulling my head up to look at him fully, I raised a brow, “I know, Babes. But drunk off chocolate wine? I’m mean that’s kind of-”

“Don’t call me Babes.”

“What’s wrong with Babes?”

“You call everyone, even people you don’t know, Babes. Don’t call me that.” He responded with a shake of his head.

Taking in his serious expression, I shrugged, “You’re right. You’re too good for Babes. But it’s a habit so I might slip from time to time.”

“Bad enough I have to share you with chocolate, I will not share a nickname with the entire realm.”

I gave a nervous laugh and waved my hands, “Let’s not talk about chocolate, Lilly. Now, if I’m remembering correctly it’s my turn to ask a question.”

“It is.” He replied, eyes squinted in suspicion.

Wiggling a little in excitement, I asked, “What’s your favorite color?”

“Silver. What’s your favorite ability?”

“Mmmmmm.” Wrinkling my nose in thought, I said, “I’d probably have to say either metal or fire. There’s just something so destructive about them that calls to me.”

His eyes rolled, “I should’ve known.”

Dipping my hand into the little basket hanging off the side, I threw a wash rag at him, “Whatever, so what kind of chocolate do you like?”

“I…I don’t actually care for chocolate.”

“Excuse me?”

He grimaced, “Yeah. I’m more of a sugar free caramel guy.”

“Do you at least like chocolate coated caramel?” I demanded, appalled.

“If it’s milk chocolate, yes.”

Releasing a breath, I relaxed, “Thank, Divines. For a second I thought I fucked someone who didn’t like chocolate. Could you imagine?”

Laughing, he threw the wet wash cloth at me, “Wipe your face. I can’t take you seriously when you’re covered in blood.”

“You sure you’re the sane one in this relationship?”

“Definitely.”

“That’s so sad.” I snorted, scrubbing at my face. “So sad.”

……………………

A slight chill followed by the shifting of the sheets roused me from my sleep enough to look around groggily. Seeing nothing, I rolled onto my back and threw an arm around Cillian only to completely awaken when my arm hit the cold mattress. Eyes snapping wide, I quickly pushed up onto my elbows and swung my gaze around until I spotted Lilly quietly getting dressed.

Brows furrowing, I shot a glance at the window to see it was still dark out, “What’s going on?”

His shoulders jolted slightly before he turned to look at me, “Sorry, I was trying to be quiet.”

“I can see that but why is what I’m asking.” I replied, a little more snappish than I would’ve liked.

A slow smile crept across his disgustingly attractive face, “You sound upset for someone who just tried walking out on me the other night.”

“Yeah, well. That’s because I’m annoyingly dramatic. You are not.”

“That you are.”

Rolling my eyes at how funny he thinks he is, I pushed back the furs and crawled to the end of the bed, “Soooooo…”

“It’s about Baris again.” He replied, spitting his brother’s name like it was acid.

“What happened now?”

Shaking his head, he yanked his tunic over his muscular chest, “He’s a Divine damn idiot, Macha. I woke up to my father yelling in my head that Baris wants to tell that girl why he’s really in Mab’s army.”

“What?” I exclaimed, brows flying to my hairline.

“Yea and after I just got done telling him to end it with her. That’s why I was late to this battle which will never happen again by the way.”

Waving my hand dismissively, I crossed my legs and leaned forward, “Don’t worry about it, so what are you going to do?”

“What can I do? I can’t pull the little shit out of the army yet because Mab will notice almost immediately. And I can’t watch him every second of the day. I just don’t understand why he doesn’t understand how dangerous our situation is!”

Raising a brow at his flared nostrils and pinched expression, I tried to calm him, “Do you know if the boy plans on mating her? Maybe-”

“Exactly! The boy. The boy, Macha. He wants to tell her everything! There is no acceptable reason for him even thinking about that!” He snapped, angrily collecting his things.

“I know but…” Voice trailing off, I froze in place as his words ricocheted around the inside of my skull.

The boy, Macha. Why did that sound so familiar? Had I heard that somewhere before? The boy, the boy, the boy….Ugh this was going to irritate the shit out of me. The boy, the boy, come on Macha. Where have you heard that before? The boy. The boy, Macha. And that’s when everything came flooding back like an unforgiving tsunami.

Hardly breathing, I stared wide eyed and unseeing at Cillian. “The boy, Macha. Remember that Cillian is your destined mate. He can help you transform by touching you when it happens. Remember that you have already found your mate.”

A pair of warm lips pressed firmly against mine before pulling away, “I need to go but I’ll make sure we see each other before I officially have to go back to Mab’s army tomorrow.”

“Wa-I-no-I have tah-you-we’re-” I fumbled out, trying to speak through my mind numbing shock.

Grabbing onto the hand I was weakly pointing at him, he gave it a kiss before stepping back, “See you tomorrow, Cell Bait. Promise.”

Seeing him close his eyes, I snapped out of my shock and jumped off the bed shouting, “Wait! Fuck! You’re my destined mate!”

But it was too late. He had already disappeared by the time my feet hit the ground. Slumping back against the bed, I blankly looked at the wall while whispering, “Destined. We’re destined mates.”

———————————————————

AHHHHH! She remembered! So close! She was so close and he was so close to hearing it! Fucking hell, people. We were soooooo close.

Btw, am I the only one who thinks Baris is messssy? Lmao.

As always, feel free to leave a comment or a like!

Smooches, Verbage💋