Page 27 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

26 AELIA

Caiden arranged for a sleigh and an entourage to transport us to the Woodland Realm, where a legion had already set up a camp. Lords liked to bring along armies as a demonstration of their strength.

“The sylph are so dramatic,” I said, covering myself with the fox-lined cloak Tharan had given me. We all clambered into the covered sleigh pulled by six dapple gray workhorses with bells braided into their manes.

“Life is a show, Aelia,” Caiden said, sliding into the seat next to me. Lucius and Amolie took the seats across from us.

“The horses are fed an enchanted grain. They will not tire for days. I am having one of my men take Arion to the camp.” He wrapped his hand around mine.I didn’t know how we had fallen back into touching each other so easily again, but it felt nice.

“Thank you.” I gave him a reassuring smile.

He pushed in closer to me. “Do you know where I got the enchanted grain?”

“You are a magus. I assume you can enchant anything.”

He shook his head, chuckling to himself. “I got it from Baylis. ”

I perked my head up. “What?”

“You didn’t know your sister was a scientist?” he asked, cocking his head to one side.

“I knew she met with the farmers of the kingdom. She must have worked with them to develop such a hearty crop.” Maybe I didn’t know as much about my sister as I thought.

Caiden let out a sigh. “She was quite something.”

“She still is,” I said before laying my head on Caiden’s shoulder.

Shadows ringed my eyes. The steady motion of the sleigh lulled me into a dreamless sleep. As I drifted off, Caiden kissed the top of my head, and I burrowed myself farther into his warm embrace.My heart chafed at the feeling of the kiss. Torn between my need to be loved and the inevitable heartbreak that would follow.

The trip seemed endless. We passed the time by playing cards, telling old stories, and singing. On the third night, we stopped at an inn in the human province of Leighton. I stretched, arching my back, relieved to be free of the sleigh for a moment.

The inn had two suites available. Amolie and I split a room while Lucius and Caiden shared the other.

“How are you feeling about the revelry?” Amolie asked as we lay in bed, listening to the wind rattle the windows.

“Hesitant, excited, sad, a million different things and nothing simultaneously.”

“Do you want to use?”

“I want to use every hour of every day.” I picked at my fingernails.

“For what it’s worth. I’m proud of you. I know this isn’t easy.”

I squeezed her tight, inhaling the sweet scent of sage seemingly baked into her hair. “I knew this day would come. I wish I had gotten sober sooner. ”

“You weren’t ready, Aelia.” She stroked my back. “I feel bad for enabling you for so long, but I didn’t know how to help you.”

“You couldn’t have helped me, Amolie. I was determined to kill myself slowly. I had to come to that realization on my own.”

“You deserve happiness too, Aelia. Don’t forget that. Don’t let your past control your future.”

A sigh escaped my lips. “I wish I could.”

The beauty of the Woodland Realm took my breath away. Towering, ancient trees with twisted branches and luminescent foliage formed a canopy filtering sunlight into a kaleidoscope of dappled hues. Their leaves glowed an otherworldly radiance, casting a gentle, ambient light bathing the forest floor in a surreal glow. The fragrance of unseen blossoms floated in the air, carrying hints of sweet nectar and the untold mysteries of the arcane. Birds sang to one another. Magic flowed like water here. I could feel its presence in every living thing.

The forest held an ancient history, one that extended beyond recorded accounts. Legend said the forest birthed the Alder King to serve as its protector.

Our camp lay in the middle of the forest, near the river. Other courts arrived and could be seen setting up their tiny tent villages as well. A market set in the center of the camps provided goods and services for weary travelers.

In the distance, a giant sycamore tree rose from the earth like a castle on a hill.

“The Alder King’s palace,” Caiden said, noticing me staring at the mighty structure.

“I’ve never seen something so grand.”

“Wait until you see inside.” He led me over to the tents. Our new home until the end of the Yule season. They contained all the comforts of a home, including a roaring fire, a plush bed piled with furs, two leather chairs, a desk, and even an ornate rug for the floor. Two soldiers dressed in Stormland armor stood guard outside the entrance to Caiden’s tent.

“Why all the protection?” I asked as I plopped down onto his bed.

“So that women like you don’t take advantage of hopeless romantics like me,” he said, lying next to me, stroking my hair.

“Cute, but what’s the real reason?”

“You know what we carry.”

I shot up, having almost completely forgotten about the scepter. “Why would you bring that here? Do you think you’re going to call on an ancient army to destroy Gideon?”

“I could if I wanted to.”

“We don’t even know how the scepter works and you brought it here, close to our mortal enemy?”

“Well, I wasn’t going to leave it behind.” Our faces nearly touched.

Knots tied themselves in my stomach.

Something like love flickered in Caiden’s eyes. Any feeling of guilt I had faded away as his lips touched mine.

I sucked in a breath as heat grew between my legs.

All the feelings of love and longing I pushed aside for years came rushing back the moment our lips touched. I wanted him in a primal way—wanted to show him the girl he fell for all those years ago still lived inside me—full of lust and passion. No reason to play coy. Only I would remember this.

I slipped my tongue between his lips. He groaned with pleasure, laying me down on the blanket of furs.

He pulled away from me. “Are you sure you want this?” he asked as he undid his wool jacket.

“Yes,” I replied through ragged breaths, fumbling with my buttons .

My pulse quickened at the sensation of his hands gripping my hips, making my mind go blank.

He knew my body better than I did. Caiden loved me. Loved me when I was human. Loved me when I was broken. Loved me when I did not love myself.

Tears poured down my cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” He cupped my face in his hands.

“I’m sorry for everything.” My voice caught in my throat. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Let me be the judge of what I deserve.” He pressed his lips against mine once more.

Parting mine, I let his tongue explore my mouth before he moved down to my chest.For a moment, I hesitated. The last time Caiden and I lay together, my breasts were plump and round. Years of self-loathing and starvation had left them flat and deflated. He did not bat an eye at my new body.

A fire grew in my core as he took one of my nipples into his mouth, teasing me with his tongue. I let out a long moan.

“That’s right, princess. I remember how you liked it.” His voice was rough and cracked.

“Do you remember what I taste like?” I said, spreading my legs wide so that he could see my slick core.

His face brightened as he lowered his head between my legs. Delicate fingers grazed over my body, making the tiny hairs on my neck stand on end.

“I’ve dreamed of the day I would get to taste you again.” His tongue circled my throbbing sex before diving deep into my core.

I came undone, letting out a moan the entire camp could hear. He continued to thrust his tongue in and out of me. Fingers teasing me at the same time.

Pleasure surged through my body, leaving me whimpering with each flick of his tongue .

Digging my fingers into his hair only increased his pace. My body trembled with exhilaration.

A back-arching, toe-curling orgasm ripped through me like a bolt of lightning. I let out a primal cry of ecstasy.

“Good girl,” he said, giving me a sly smile as heaved himself up, revealing his erect cock.

I pulled him on top of me, allowing him to lower his throbbing erection into my slick cunt. He thrust in and out, stoking the flame of my desire.

“Don’t stop,” I said, burying my fangs into his shoulder.

He let out a cry of pleasure, hastening the pace of his thrusts.

Another orgasm grew in my core, demanding to be released, but Caiden wouldn’t let me, pinning my hands over my head.

“Oh, Trinity,” he exclaimed, his body going limp on top of me. “I’m sorry. I…”

I lay stunned at the man on top of me.

“It’s okay,” I said, kissing him on the forehead.

Blush colored his cheeks. “It’s just… I haven’t been with anyone since my wife. So, I’m a little out of practice. Let me finish you.”

I winced at the word “wife.”

“That’s okay.” I sat up, awkwardly pulling the blankets around me, regretting letting it go this far. We shouldn’t have let our feelings get the better of us.

“Aelia, I…” He fiddled with his thumbs. “I don’t know what to say.”

Running a soft hand down his square jaw, I gave him a loving glance. “You don’t have to say anything at all. The blame is on me.”

Caiden nervously mussed his hair. “I don’t know what came over me.”

I nuzzled my nose into the crook of his neck. “Lay down with me. We can try again in the morning.”

Something tugged at me from my sleep, but when I opened my eyes, only darkness surrounded me. The dying embers of the fire throwing their last bits of light. I tried to return to my slumber, but the tugging continued. Tug, tug, tug .

I pulled myself from Caiden’s warm embrace, wrapped myself in his coat, and went to investigate the source of my discomfort. It pulled me toward Caiden’s desk.

‘ Aelia, ’ a ghoulish voice whispered in my ear. ‘ Aelia, my queen. I am here, waiting for you. ’

“Who are you?” I whispered into the darkness.

‘ I hover in between worlds, not fully alive, but not fully dead either. Only one who has been beyond the veil is worthy of commanding the dead. ’

“What are you talking about?”

A drawer of Caiden’s desk popped open, revealing a leather box.

‘ Open it, ’ the ancient voice commanded.

Shaking hands unclasped the golden latches, exposing the scepter made of a long bone with symbols I did not recognize engraved on its hilt.

‘ Take it, ’ the voice commanded. ‘ You are the only one who can command the dead. ’ The ruby eyes of the bird glowed.

“I don’t want it.” I tried to steady my voice.

‘ You are my chosen one, Aelia Springborn. Prick your finger and bind us together until death do us part. ’

Everything inside me told me to run, but part of me yearned for power. My whole life, I had been powerless. Unable to save my father, my sister, and myself. As commander of the Army of the Dead, I would be unstoppable.

“What’s the catch?” I asked the voice.

‘ Don’t you want to be the Queen of the Dead? ’

“Queen of the cursed is what you mean.” I ran my fingers over the inscriptions carved into the hilt. Pure power radiated from the scepter. A lesser woman would jump at the chance, but I wouldn’t tie myself to the damned for an eternity.

The voice hissed at me. ‘ Hard as you may try, Aelia Springborn, you will command the dead. ’

A gust of wind blew through the tent, extinguishing the last embers of the fire, slamming the box shut.

A long breath escaped my lips. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Was I delirious? Had my drug-addled brain dreamed this up? Hopefully, a good night’s rest would solve my burning mind.