Page 19

Chapter 19

Talwyn

T alwyn followed the Shifter guard ahead of her as he led her up the path to the Alpha’s home. Tarek was with her. She’d had little choice on that matter. He had insisted on accompanying her anyway, saying a queen should not be traveling without guards, especially into potential enemy territory. She had wanted to argue, but before she could, he had mentioned going to speak to Ashtine after their visit to Siofra. She’d decided to save her arguments for that ?ght. The whole pick-your-battles strategy and all that.

And she had to wonder at what point that had become her mentality. She had never backed down from anything before. She’d controlled and commanded every situation, Azrael and Ashtine at her sides. That’s when it changed, she supposed. She had never realized how much she was a part of a unit until she found herself standing alone.

The guard stepped off to the side, gesturing through a set of gauzy curtains. “The Beta is through here.”

“Thank you,” Talwyn said tightly, stepping into the room. They’d only taken a few steps when they both faltered.

Arianna Renatus, Beta of the Shifters, was sprawled across a settee. Her gold dress was bunched at the waist, her chest bare. Her head was tipped back while her personal guard and lover, Jamahl, knelt between her thighs. Her ?ngers were threaded into his tight curly hair that was cut short and close to his head, his wide shoulders keeping her thighs spread wide for him.

Her olive eyes slid to Talwyn, a mixture of lust and challenge churning in them. Her ?ngers tugged at Jamahl’s hair, and his mouth moved from her center to the inside of her thigh, trailing along her ?esh.

“Queen Talwyn,” she greeted, her sultry voice breathless.

“Arianna,” Talwyn replied. “I would greet Jamahl, but he appears rather busy at the moment.”

“Mmm,” Arianna hummed as Jamahl moved to her other thigh. “That he is.” She gestured lazily towards an opening across the room. “Stellan is on the veranda. I will join you all momentarily. Unless you and your... Well, unless the two of you wish to join us ?rst?”

“With all due respect, Beta, I would not put myself in such a vulnerable position without a concrete understanding of where you and the Alpha stand on the matters we have to discuss today,” Talwyn answered, watching Jamahl make his way back to the apex of her thighs.

“Wise words for someone whose wisdom has been called into question as of late,” Arianna said, her tone going icy.

“She is the Fae Queen,” Tarek cut in sharply. “You will show her the respect you always have.”

A dark laugh rose from Arianna’s throat that had Talwyn inwardly ?inching. This was going to be a dif?cult visit the way it was. She didn’t need it complicated by Tarek’s lack of knowledge on how to deal with the Shifter siblings.

“Oh, puppet,” the Beta purred coldly, locking eyes with him. “Look at you. Thinking you are in a position to speak to me in such a way.” Her gaze slid back to Talwyn. “Maybe the Witches have had it right all along, hmm? Maybe males are only good for one thing?” Her ?ngers were back in Jamahl’s hair, and she jerked his mouth back to her center, a moan sounding as he slid his tongue along her sensitive skin.

“He meant no disrespect, Arianna,” Talwyn ground out, her ?ngers twitching in anticipation of the Beta’s next move, wind ?uttering at her ?ngertips. That male between her thighs could be Shifted into a giant tiger in less time than it would take Talwyn to blink.

“We both know that is not true. Do not try to placate me, your Majesty ,” she returned. She jerked her chin towards the veranda. “I will be along momentarily.”

Talwyn nodded, grateful for the reprieve, even if she had essentially just been dismissed.

“Oh, and puppet?” Arianna called after them as Tarek reached to move the curtains out of Talwyn’s way. He looked at her before looking back over his shoulder at the Beta. “If you think my brother is the one you need to bow before here, think again. He may be the Alpha, but consider who he will rip the world apart for.”

Talwyn saw Tarek’s jaw clench tighter, but he said nothing in reply to Arianna. They stepped out onto the veranda and walked along a small path, rounding a corner when they again both came to a standstill.

“For the love of Silas,” Tarek muttered. “Did we not send word of a meeting time?”

Stellan was seated in a large chair, his dark skin glistening in the summer sun. His head was tipped towards the sky, a female with golden skin perched on the arm of the chair, her lips on his throat, while a male was on his knees before him with his lips wrapped around his cock, head bobbing in his lap.

“It is a statement,” Talwyn answered, her voice low.

“A statement,” he scoffed.

“She set them free, Tarek,” Talwyn said simply as Stellan groaned, his hand holding the male in place as he ?nished, his hips thrusting deeper into the male’s throat. “They will no longer be controlled by those who can no longer contain them.”

The male on his knees sat back, Stellan trailing his ?ngers along his jaw for a moment, before there was a ?ash of light and a large, tawny wolf sat before him. The wolf turned, hazel eyes settling on the Fae.

“Ilyas,” Talwyn greeted before lifting her eyes to Stellan, who was slipping into linen pants, and the female. “Alpha. Sariah,” she added in turn.

“Drink, your Majesty?” Sariah asked. Her ?ngers ran along Stellan’s bare chest as she pushed to her feet.

“Yes, please,” she answered, stepping further into the space.

“Arianna?” Stellan asked, settling back into his chair. Although, to be honest, it would be better described as a throne. It had elegant armrests, the entire thing gilded in bronze with various animals engraved into the metal. The seat and back were draped in plush purple fabric, providing comfortable padding while he sat. An equally extravagant seat was set beside his.

A “Here, Brother” came before Talwyn could answer, and she looked over her shoulder to ?nd Arianna striding along the path, the gold beads at the ends of her dark braids clinking with each step. A tiger padded along at her side.

The Beta moved gracefully to the chair set next to her brother, taking a chalice off the tray Sariah brought over, serving the Shifters before offering the ?nal two glasses to Talwyn and Tarek. There were no chairs for them. Another statement being made.

“To what do we owe the insistence of a meeting?” Stellan asked after taking a long drink from his chalice.

“I will not insult your intelligence if you will do me the same courtesy,” Talwyn returned, her ?ngers tightening around the chalice she held. “Then I suggest your puppet keeps his mouth shut for the duration of this conversation,” Arianna replied lazily, swirling the liquid in her chalice. “Seeing as I have already been insulted by his words once since your arrival.”

“Is that so?” Stellan growled, a deep rumble sounding from his chest as his olive eyes glared daggers at Tarek.

“It will not happen again,” Talwyn answered quickly. “He does not understand how things have changed in the last decade. He does not know what kind of alliance we now have.”

Arianna’s brow quirked up, her lips tilting into a small, amused smirk. “An alliance? Is that what you think we had, your Majesty?”

“Yes,” Talwyn answered, lifting her chin.

“Interesting,” Arianna said, her chin coming to rest on a manicured hand. “Apparently we recall things differently. Brother?”

Godsdamnit. The last time she had seen the Shifter siblings, they’d been squabbling about Arianna going with Sorin to the mortal lands without Stellan’s knowledge. They had clearly made up, and the siblings, as a united front, were a formidable pair. Even when they had been under more of her control, she had proceeded with caution with them, always tried to stay on their good side. She had always known they would be invaluable when it came to getting revenge on Avonleya, and now that the time had come, she found all the effort wasted unless she could get them to reconsider.

“I recall being secluded and contained behind wards, called upon when needed to further others’ agendas,” Stellan answered, his body rigid despite the release he’d just experienced.

“We recall things differently then,” Talwyn replied, resisting the urge to curl her ?ngers into ?sts at her sides. “I had no part in the creation of the wards that bound you to these lands, but I -corresponded with you often, sometimes for business and sometimes for pleasure.”

The siblings fell silent, olive eyes watching her intently.

“And what do you desire from us now?” Stellan ?nally asked.

“Your aid in the coming war with Avonleya.”

A laugh fell from Arianna’s lips. “You wish us to aid you against the one who gave us freedom?”

“Did you forget the ones who trapped you in the ?rst place?” Talwyn demanded.

The small smirk formed on Arianna’s lips again. “Of course not, your Majesty. Did you forget we fought in that war centuries ago?”

“No.”

“Were you there?”

“No,” Talwyn answered again.

“So one could then conclude that my recollection of events is likely more accurate than the ones you have read, yes?”

Talwyn’s lips pursed, and she struggled to push down the power clawing to be released as her irritation rose. She cleared her throat. “Yes, I would imagine that would be the case.”

“Then let me tell you what I recall, hmm?” Arianna’s arm fell, both hands curling around the ends of the chair she sat in. She leaned forward slightly, braids sliding over her shoulder. “We were forced behind those wards by the very people you have aligned yourself with, and now you are asking us to side with those who imprisoned us? Us. The Shifters. Who favor Temural, god of the untamed and wild. Those you now align yourself with caged us, your Majesty. Did I leave anything out, Brother?”

“I believe you covered everything, Arianna,” Stellan replied, his hand moving to her arm and gently squeezing in an attempt to calm his sister.

Talwyn moved forward one step. “Your people lost much as a result of the Great War. You lost much as a result of that war,” she said, her voice strong and unwavering. “You think I cannot relate to what you have suffered? I have watched friends grow up without parents. I have watched entire races of people be repressed and trapped within lands,” she said, gesturing to the siblings. “Did you think I was doing nothing in the White Halls?”

“Oh, you were doing something,” Stellan cut in. “Plotting and planning revenge against those who did not con?ne us. Do not forget, Talwyn, we have our gifts because of those you seek revenge against.”

“You have your gifts because of the Fae, not the Avonleyans,” she spat. “Think again, young queen,” Arianna said, sitting back in her chair, ?ngers gliding into Jamahl’s fur beside her. “Perhaps it would be prudent of you to learn and understand your own history before coming to us for aid against the wrong kingdom.”

Talwyn stepped forward again, pointing her ?nger at the Shifters. “It does not matter who gave you those gifts. You were given them for the sole purpose of ?ghting for Avonleya. If they had not needed your aid, you would not have them now.”

“Can the same not be said for the Fae?” Stellan countered.

“Yes. I recognize that my people were used and discarded when Avonleya ?ed back across the sea,” Talwyn answered. “It is for them I want Avonleya to answer for its actions. It is for you. The Witches.”

“The Night Children?” Arianna asked, crossing her legs, and the slit of golden dress parting to reveal her entire thigh. “Do you seek justice on their behalf as well?”

“Yes,” Talwyn said con?dently. “They have been wronged as much as the rest of us. The only difference is they recognized it before the rest of us and tried to ?ght back against them.”

Arianna glanced at her brother, a look passing between them, and Talwyn pushed forward, intending to capitalize on whatever this ?icker of indecision meant.

“We have always had a good relationship, have always worked for the betterment of my people and yours. My desire was always to see you free to roam and not trapped in these lands.”

“And yet you are not the one who relieved us of our shackles,” Stellan said.

“Just because she accomplished the task ?rst does not mean I did not intend for and desire the same outcome,” she replied.

“And yet actions still speak louder than words,” the Alpha countered.

“So I am the villain because she had access to resources I do not?”

“You are asking us to align ourselves with you when you openly admit you do not have access to the same resources she does?” Arianna replied, her head back in her palm. “That does not seem in our best interest. Being on the losing side of this war will likely ?nd us con?ned once more.”

“So loyalty means nothing?” Talwyn demanded. “You now decide who to throw your lot in with based solely on resources and power?”

“Sweet child,” Arianna simpered with a low laugh. “It is a commendable effort. The puppet can report back that you truly did make a decent argument and a good attempt at manipulating our incredibly tender sensibilities. But open war? Of course we will take into account resources and power. You would be wise to do the same.”

“What makes you think I have not?”

“You stand on one side, and we stand on the other,” Arianna answered, gesturing to the ground.

Talwyn looked down to ?nd the toes of her boots at the edge of a large crack along the pave stones. Looking back up, she met the Beta’s eyes. “So that is it, then? You have chosen? War lines are being drawn. Soon you will not be able to change sides.”

“You would do well to remember that, young queen,” Arianna agreed. She pushed to her feet, Stellan rising beside her. “The light and the dark are intertwining, and you choose the side of neither. The side that will be left with nothing.”

“What exactly makes you certain that we will lose?” Talwyn challenged.

“Because the light and the dark have everything to ?ght for.”

“ I have everything to ?ght for,” Talwyn snapped.

“You did at one point in time,” Arianna agreed. “Now it appears all you have is a puppet, and someone pulling both your strings.”