Page 30

Chapter thirty

Genevieve

W e landed in a field of lilac and sage. The smells were fresh and overwhelming in a comforting way. Even though the shadow of the night still hung over the sky, the nymph lands were extraordinary. Their settlement was in a heavily treed area deep within the forest. On the other side of the tree line, I could see the sparkling shimmer of a beautiful lake that was fed by the fresh spring water from the mountain peak.

The nymphs’ homes were built within and through the trees. Their entire community was connected by bridges and ropes hung from branch to branch. Only natural materials were used in constructing their buildings. Fresh patches of gardens and farming fields were spread throughout the clearings. It was like I had stepped into paradise.

“What do you think, princess?” I heard Eren’s rich voice from behind me. He leaned down and nuzzled his nose into the curve of my neck, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I’m just glad we got here in time to try to save all of this,” I answered. “Who would want to destroy such a beautiful place?”

“Mindless monsters. Thanks to you, they’ll have to get through us first,” he said, leaning around to kiss me.

I ran my hand down his arm before he pulled away, looking to the sky. Zerrial had landed with us, but Evinee and Levos were still nowhere to be found.

“I wish you would tell me what is going on?” I whispered. “I could help.”

He ran his hand through his hair, exhaling. “I’ve already explained. It’s not my story to tell. I just … I know Evinee. Better than she knows herself sometimes. She can make reckless decisions and sometimes she is unpredictable, which I absolutely despise, because then I don’t know where her crazy, brilliant mind has fluttered off to when I am not watching. Usually self-destruction, mayhem, and chaos. And … because of everything recently, she’s shut me out. I don’t know what she’s up to, which means I can’t protect her from herself.” He looked defeated. It was killing me.

I turned to face him, wrapped my arms around his waist. “Hey, you are a good friend. And you can’t be responsible for everyone all the time. She is grown. She is going to make her own decisions, regardless of your opinions or meddling. I don’t like the idea of her with Levos any more than you do. She’s not good for him,” I said honestly without thinking.

Eren stiffened, looking down at me. “And what is that supposed to mean? You think Levos could do better than Evinee?” he asked in a defensive tone.

“I don’t mean to offend you, but come on, Eren. The madam of the dark court and innocent Levos? Doesn’t quite fit. She’d break his heart as soon as he handed it over. I know him, and I know what he expects out of a relationship.”

Eren pulled away. I could tell his temper was flaring. “And I know Evinee. In ways you do not,” he spat.

“Oh, yes. Please, rub it in my face about how intimately you know Evinee,” I shot back.

“That’s not what I meant Genevieve and you know it.”

Zerrial found an interesting tree to look at, not daring to get involved.

I threw my hands out to my sides. “Then tell me why I should expect anything more from her. I’ve heard the stories. I’ve seen her in action. I am fully aware of all her lovely attributes. She is using Levos, to whatever advantage she can swing, and I will not stand by and let that happen,” I yelled.

“She is using him? Are you kidding me right now? He is the enemy. He is the one who works for the opposing court. Evinee is loyal and trustworthy. How can you not see how he is using her to his advantage?” he roared.

“Levos is not the enemy. I trust him with my life.”

“Well, I don’t. He is Gaelin Atros’s cousin and right-hand man. Or are your feelings for Gaelin clouding your judgement, as always?”

I huffed in annoyance. “Here we go again. When are you going to get over your jealousy issues? I married you, not him, remember?”

“I am not the only one with jealousy issues here, princess. You can’t accept my past with Evinee, even though it’s been over longer than you’ve been alive.”

“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to stare Gaelin in the face every day, like I do with her. I see the way you protect her. The way you comfort her.”

“Yes, and I always will. She is a part of my family. She is my oldest friend and when she needs me, I will be there. Just like I would for anyone in our family. It doesn’t mean I want anything else from the relationship. I am in love with you, as I have proven time and time again.”

A ragamor slammed into the ground near us while we faced off. We didn’t flinch or even break eye contact. Eren and I had never fought like this before, but I wasn’t backing down.

“I see the fighting has already begun,” Evinee said from behind me as she strolled our way. “Zerrial, what did we miss?”

Zerrial didn’t respond, focusing on something off in the distance.

Levos approached, looking from Eren to me. He gently placed a hand on my back. “Gen, everything alright?”

I snapped my head in his direction. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be.”

“Where were you two?” asked Eren, turning his eyes to Evinee.

“Scenic route,” she replied in a sultry voice, before she sauntered by him towards the village.

Eren grumbled and headed after her. Zerrial followed, leaving Levos and me behind.

“Hey,” he said, turning me towards him. “What was that all about?”

“Evinee,” I said with bite.

“Popular, that one, isn’t she?” he replied, trying to be playful.

“A little too popular for my liking.”

He laughed. “You are aware that Lyklor is head over heels for you. You have nothing to worry about.”

“He’s not the one I am worried about, Levos,” I said, turning towards him.

He furrowed his brow, cocking his head to the side. “And why are you worried about me? Does Evinee still plan on killing me? Because I am pretty sure letting me slide off Pasiese would have been an easy way to accomplish that.”

“What do you see in her?” I asked bluntly.

He smirked. “Are you blind?”

I shook my head. “No, I am fully aware of her physical attraction. It’s her other … skills I’m concerned about.”

“Dear Genevieve, I am touched that you feel the need to protect me, but I can look out for myself.”

“Why Levos? She is nothing like Madison. And what about Vena? She must be more to your liking than Evinee.”

Levos’s face went stern, his stare intense and intimidating. “Madison is gone,” he said in an icy tone. “And as far as Vena and I are concerned, that is none of your business. Who I choose to spend my time with is not regulated by you. I know you are speaking out of concern, but you and Eren both need to stay the hell out of this. Am I clear?”

I nodded, feeling a bit foolish. “I’m sorry Levos. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t, but I wanted to make myself clear on the matter. And for the record, Evinee turned me down.”

“What? She turned you down?” I shook my head, astonished.

“She isn’t who you think she is. Out of all people, I wouldn’t have expected you to judge someone before getting to know them.”

“I know her plenty, thank you.”

“No, you don’t,” he said plainly, walking towards the others.

I followed him, embarrassment heating my cheeks. How did Levos think he knew Evinee better than I did in just three days? Was that little conversation we walked in on the other night especially life-changing? Or was she manipulating him, as I expected?

As we approached the base of the nymph village, I could feel the tension rolling off our group. A semicircle of nymphs stood in front of us. I recognized Haeza, the nymph ambassador, from when she had visited the light court. She stood beside a green-haired female who wore a crown made from twigs and crystals. The female had deep brown skin with large doe eyes. and long green lashes Her lips were full and the color of cherries. Her body was covered in a thin linen fabric, hinting at her more private parts.

Eren nodded to her, the rest of us followed. “Queen Hashian, thank you for receiving us,” Eren started.

Queen Hashian’s expression remained cold and unwelcoming. She did not reply.

Levos approached the queen. Her face gave way to a small smile as she extended her hand. He took it and pressed his lips against the top of her skin. Her other hand rose, stroking the length of his white-silver hair with her long, slender fingers.

“Queen Hashian,” Levos said, standing upright. “Thank you for receiving us on such short notice.”

“Interesting company you now keep, Ambassador Atros,” she replied, scanning the lot of us.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Levos said.

She grunted. “Yes, we received your warning. We have scouts patrolling but we haven’t discovered anything out of the ordinary.”

“We are here to assist you in any way you need,” Eren said.

Hashian walked past Levos until she faced Eren. She assessed him from head to toe and scoffed. “I do not require your assistance, nor want it. We’ve heard of your current … rise in station. Apparently, the dark court will allow anything to sit on its corrupt throne,” she hissed, turning towards me, “won’t they?”

My magic rose in response to my anger, and I fought to keep the Dark Flame from bursting through from my skin. I turned to Eren; his face remained the perfect vision of coolness.

“And who are you exactly referring to?” I asked. “Let me be clear.” I moved in front of her so we were now face to face. “I will not be spoken to in such a disrespectful manner, nor will I allow anyone to speak to my husband that way. Erendrial Lyklor deserves everything he has accomplished. If you have the gall to question the inner workings of me or my court again, I will cancel the reinforcements currently on their way and leave you to be picked off by whatever creature comes crawling through that rift. Am I clear?”

She did not smile or flinch. Without a word, she turned around and made her way back to Haeza. She leaned down to her ambassador, whispering in her ear before taking her leave. The other nymphs followed behind her as Haeza came towards us. Eren grabbed my hand and squeezed it, giving me a small smile.

“Well, that went splendidly,” Levos said, running his hand through his hair.

“Never a dull moment,” Evinee added.

Zerrial grunted. “I want to kill her for speaking to the two of you in that manner.”

“Wouldn’t solve anything right now,” Eren replied. “And we’d be down in numbers. Remember the goal.”

“Alfar,” Haeza spoke confidently towards us. “Please follow me to your lodgings.” She turned around, heading back towards the village in the trees. At the base of their settlement, three small tents were set up on the ground. Nothing special or grand about them: they reminded me of the tent I had slept in when I first arrived in the fae lands. Only a sleeping roll and pillow were inside.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Evinee said.

“Is there a problem?” Haeza asked.

“No,” Eren intervened. “The lodgings are fine, thank you.”

Haeza nodded to Eren before turning towards Levos. “Ambassador Levos, please follow me to your lodgings.”

Levos stood in place. Haeza turned back, noting he wasn’t following.

“I will stay here with my companions. Thank you, Ambassador Haeza,” Levos said, moving towards the tent Zerrial stood by.

“As you wish,” she said, taking a winding staircase up into the trees.

“The nerve of these nymphs,” Evinee complained. “After we offered to help them. And to treat our royals in such a way. Even when they visit our court, they are treated with the utmost respect and given finer accommodations than these pieces of shit.”

“Hopefully, we’re not here very long,” Zerrial said. “We need to get to the mountain to deal with the dwarfs.”

He was right. The faster we dealt with this threat, the faster we could secure more allies. “Otar,” I called. A few seconds passed before he appeared next to me.

“Yes, wicked, lovely one,” he said in his usual whiny voice. “Finally done with those fairy pests I see. Thank the gods!” He stopped, sniffing the air around him, looking towards the houses in the trees. His eyes got wide as his smile grew. “Nymphs. You’ve brought me nymphs. Sexual little balls of deliciousness,” he yelped in excitement, clapping and bouncing from foot to foot.

“No, Otar,” I said. “Do not interfere with any of the nymphs. Is that clear?”

“Ahh!” he screamed, stomping his feet. “Not fair, not fair, not fair. First, you say no killing the fairies. Now, no touching nymphs.”

“But there will be killing,” I said, reaching for his shoulder. “Very soon.”

His face lit up with excitement. “I am listening,” he replied.

“There are creatures coming through the rifts that will attack this land soon,” I said, kneeling to him. “I need you to do a patrol. The nymphs said they're already on it, but I only trust you.”

He licked my face as he played with my hair between his fingers. “As you wish, wicked one.” He pulled away and disappeared.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that thing,” Evinee commented with a look of disgust.

“Now that we have someone patrolling,” Eren said to us all. “Let’s try and get some rest. The others should be here by morning.”

They all nodded, disappearing into their tents without another word. Eren went into our small tent first. I followed, exhausted from our fight and the lack of rest I so desperately needed. He pulled out my bed roll, placing it close to his. He readied his own bed before sitting down on the floor and taking off his boots. I sat by the opening, observing him.

“Do you plan on watching me sleep,” he asked, “or are you going to come and join me?”

I smirked, kicking off my boots and crawling in besides him. He pulled me closer. I buried my nose in the center of his chest, taking in his smell.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his shirt.

“Me too, princess.”

“I hate fighting with you.”

“That, we have in common. Though, you are quite sexy when you get adamant like that. I almost forgot.”

I laughed, knocking my fist against his chest. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute, you know that?”

“My looks are my most powerful weapon. They allowed me to conquer you, didn’t they?” he said, stroking his hand down my side. He cupped my bottom, pulling my body in closer.

“Oh, is that what happened? You conquered me?” I whispered.

A low growl rattled in his throat. “Hm, I dare say, you’ve been my most rewarding quest yet.” He leaned down, biting my bottom lip while his tongue slid across the sensitive skin.

I wrapped my arms around him, sliding my hands down his firm, muscular back. A low moan of pleasure escaped me.

“Azeer, that sound,” he whispered against my lips. “I love that I am responsible for you making that little noise.” His hands continued to explore my body.

I began to undo his pants, needing to feel his body inside of me. Against me. I heard him chuckle lightly. I pulled away, looking up at him. “Is something funny?” I asked.

He smiled, flashing those beautiful bright teeth. “Someone is impatient tonight.”

“I can stop if you prefer to sleep,” I replied.

He chuckled, nuzzling his nose against my face. “Now, now, I didn’t say that. Though, we should be resting, but I find that I’m incapable of that when you are next to me.” He took my mouth, moving his lips slowly this time. I relaxed against him, his power washing over me. His fingers undid each button of my blouse too slowly.

“I need you,” I pleaded to him.

“I know, princess,” he said, before making all my dreams and desires come true.