“Melanie.” Freya said, confused. “I’m sorry Freya.” She said and blew into her fist. The entire room exposed with mermaid dust and instantly, the magic seized hold of Freya’s body. She collapsed to the ground, immobilised. Anger swept through her and she gritted her teeth and pushed against the fog pressing on her mind but the magic held her down, making her unable to move a muscle. She watched through the colourful dust as Melanie entered the room and lifted the box from inside the hidden floor. Inside the clear box was a dark collar, so black it seemed to drink the light from around it. She stopped struggling, the collar stealing her attention as it seemed to pulse. Melanie held it up and a high keening sound filled the air, piercing her ears and jarring her. It was coming from the collar, eerily similar to the sound she heard before she passed out in that alley earlier. She struggled to cover her ears against the terrible sound but she couldn’t, it was everywhere; in her ears an
That evening, Freya did not wait for the king to summon her, she went to him. He rose from his throne when he saw her and the throne room grew silent as she approached and dropped into a curtsy. “Everyone, out.” He ordered curtly. Important men were seated all around the throne room and they cleared their throat, obviously balking at the rude dismissal. King Ardelan glanced at them in question, and they all rose, muttering their pleasantries as they filed out. “To what do I owe this pleasant visit?” He asked her as he planted a kiss on her knuckles. “You said you’d personally escort me the next time I had a craving to see the gardens. I figured you’d need saving from the overdrawn meetings of the day.” She said and he laughed. “You couldn’t have been more right.” Replied King Ardelan. She offered him her arm and he took it. There was no mention of a missing collar nor any hint of suspicion in his eyes. Did he not notice yet or was she clear of his suspicion entirely?“How do you
Riordan’s control was close to snapping. He ignored his wolf’s roar to take her and painstakingly waited for her to make her choice. “I’ve waited too long.” He told her. “I need you.”Her eyes widened and she fought a battle within herself but he didn’t make it any easier for her. Resting on his elbow, his hand slid up her smooth soft thigh, closer and closer to that part where he knew she wanted him the most. “Let me taste you.” He whispered and his hand slid higher. Her breath hitched and her rosy lips parted. A shot of lust speared into his cock and thickened it, and he had a picture of those soft lips wrapped around his cock. There was no way she could deny him, not when they were created for each other in the first place. He claimed her lips in a hard kiss and she let out a little moan at the back of her throat, the sound that never failed to drive him mad. With a growl, he dragged his lips from hers and gripped the shift that teased his imagination since he gazed upon her. A
Freya gazed at herself in the mirror as her maids fitted the immaculate dress on her. “Oh she is so beautiful.” Valerie gushed, stepping back to admire their work. The deep purple dress hugged her figure to precision, cinching deeply over her waist and flaring over her hips. Her hair was curled up in an intricate up-do with wispy strands softening her face. “I agree.” Nessa, her second maid glowed with pride. Freya could admit that the dress was indeed beautiful and also a perfect fit, but she found her lips turning down as she shuffled on her feet. She could hardly draw a full breath, and there was no way in hell she could fight in this entrapment. Aremin had raised her in practical leather that allowed for an armoury of weapons and though he’d made sure she could endure these dresses, it wasn’t a fun experience. “We’re so lucky.” Nessa said as she rouged Freya’s lips. “Everyone is saying you’ll be queen soon, and that’ll make us the personal maids of the queen!” She said in a
The rest of the festival was a daze to Freya. She pasted on the biggest smile and her energy was unmatched as the game were roasted over a high fire and drinks passed amongst the men. Her arm hung on the king’s the entire time as she charmed his people, being the queen that Queen Renee never could be and no one could tell that the king’s grip on hers felt as terrible as shackles on her wrists. By the time the sun was going down, respectable ladies were flitting into their carriages, leaving the men that would carry the festival into the dead of night. “I don’t want you to leave.” King Ardelan said, the ale on his breath bathing her face. Her brows rose playfully but her voice was firm. “I know the people call me your mistress but you don’t think me a whore do you?” She asked. Her words finally knocked some sense into him and he bowed to her, making people gush again. “Pardon my manners, Lady Reynette. I seem to forget myself when I’m with you.” He said. She smiled and dropped int
Freya laughed bitterly, unable to believe that she’d been caught in a trap she could have so easily avoided. She made a silent promise to Melanie, she would make the betrayer regret her actions, then she turned to the king. “Your Majesty, I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” Said Freya. “I’ve told him everything.” Melanie cut in. “You can quit the pretence.”“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Freya insisted.“How dare you make a fool of my hospitality?Tell me your true mission, were you sent to assassinate me?” King Ardelan thundered, a muscle ticking on his forehead as he approached her and she scoffed. It seemed denial would get her nowhere. “Our guild carefully sieves the sands of life, we don’t overturn the entire damn thing.” She said and his nostrils flared in anger. He crossed to her and his swing caught her lip, his ring splitting her lip open right away. “In a way, I knew there was something off about you.” He said in a growl. “Why was I so terribly a
“I needed to get my sister.” Melanie said into the quiet room sometime later. Freya didn’t spare her a glance, keeping her eyes closed as her magic streamed steadily from her hands. “The king caught me snooping in his bedchambers.” She continued. “I had no choice. I knew he wouldn’t kill you, I see the way he looks at you.”Freya laughed humourlessly. “Does your sister think so? I forgot, she can’t think anymore can she?”Melanie flinched from the low blow and Freya looked pointedly away and closed her eyes. “Hera looked at me like I was a stranger she met on the battlefield.” Melanie said. “Touching as your story is, I don’t give a fuck. I should have never gotten involved in the first place.” Said Freya. “I owe you an apology Freya, you were a true friend I didn’t expect to find.” Melanie said quietly. “Do you have a plan?”“No.” Freya said and bestowed a cold smile on her. “You are going to die, I am going to die. And we were never friends. I felt pity for how you were deserted
Riordan staggered a step, watching that cursed collar snap around her throat. “No!” He yelled but he was too late. Her face became blank and her fiery grey eyes slowly became a solid black, identical to the other warriors. She was lost. His roar of pain shook the hall and several warriors staggered back in shock. Something powerful and unholy simmered and roiled under his skin, pushing to be let out in an unstoppable tide. “You will die a painful death.” He promised the king and let the rage burn. Fire ignited his skin and burned to the roof, spreading to encircle the room in a flaming wall of red hot flames. The warriors shrieked and staggered back, repelled by his light. The fire engulfed the first of them and she dropped to the ground, screeching with pain. He stared at what used to be Freya and her alien gaze met his. Once, he would have celebrated her end. Guinevere’s collar was clamped around her throat and the only way it would be coming off is from her dead severed neck