Waters of Fate Page 3

  He slid his hands into her hair, intending to pull her from him. She hummed low in her throat, the vibrations caressing his cock, and his hands fisted in the curls. His hips moved back and forth, fucking her hot mouth. His balls tightened and heat built up within him, wanting to burst out. He pulled her away—not to end it. No, it was too late for that. She asked for tonight, she’d get it. Yanking her to her feet, he kissed her hard on the mouth, bruising her lips. He spun her around and bent her over the bureau.

  “Are you ready, Princess?” he asked, nipping at the smooth expanse of her back. He reached around her waist and slid his fingers through the swollen folds of her pussy. A grin curved his lips. “Oh yes, you’re dripping. Do you want me inside you?”

  She pushed back against him, her soft ass pressing against his hardness. “You know I do, damn it!”

  Rhys chuckled and circled her clit with one finger before putting pressure on it. Neiva cried out.

  He shifted away to grasp his cock and slid it along her slick slit, down over her clit and back to the opening of her warmth. Once positioned, he grasped her hips and pulled. With one swift thrust, her wet, tight heat surrounded him. The muscles of her pussy contracted around him. Great Goddess, he’d never felt such tightness. He gritted his teeth to keep from coming then and there.

  Neiva whimpered and circled her hips. Reaching around again, he found the swollen nub and tapped it once, twice, and then rubbed it hard as he began to drive into her. He knew this wasn’t going to be a long, drawn out loving. No, it was going to be fast and hard. And he would make her scream before he was finished with her.

  He ran his other hand up the length of her spine and buried it in her thick mane of hair. He rammed into her and paused for a moment, his cock pulsing almost unbearably. Pulling until her head fell back, he leaned over her, his chest against her back, and licked the length of her neck to her ear.

  “Come for me, Princess.” He bit the small lobe. “Come apart.”

  Rhys straightened and moved within her again. Over and over. The closer he came, the more the pleasure built within, the louder the sweet music swelled around them.

  “I. Belong. To You.” Each word punctuated by thrust and a hard caress of her clit. “You belong to me… No!” He bit down on his lip hard, tasting blood, as her pussy began to spasm around his cock. He plunged over and over until his seed spilled within her. Her clit throbbed against his fingers as she screamed out his name.

  Breathing ragged, he leaned over her for a moment and rubbed his cheek against her sweat-slickened skin. He listened to the sound of her heavy breathing, satisfied he’d brought her pleasure.

  “Get off.”

  He jerked into an upright position, but didn’t pull out of her. “What?”

  “Get off of me.” Her voice was low, dull.

  With a frown, he pulled away from her and watched as she straightened and crossed to the bed. She sat and pulled her legs up to rest her chin on her knees.

  “You can leave now.”

  “Princess…”

  Neiva lifted her head and glared at him. “Don’t call me that! You gave me what I wanted. Now leave.”

  Anger swept through him. Damn her. “I didn’t give you want you wanted though, did I? Was this a little ploy to get what you really wanted? ‘Just give me tonight, Rhys’.” He threw her words back at her. “You didn’t want just tonight, did you, Princess? You wanted me to say the words. You wanted me to bind us together.”

  “I never made it a secret that that was what I wanted, you bastard,” she hissed. “You’re unwilling to give it to me. End of story. We fucked. I got my night with you. Go away.”

  “I told you from the beginning it wasn’t to be,” he pointed out. He reached down and tucked himself back in his trousers. Glancing down, he stopped cold. Blood. There was blood on his cock. His gaze returned to her pale face. “You were untried. A virgin?”

  Neiva closed her eyes for a moment before meeting his stare again. “Yes, Rhys. I was. Now I’m not.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? How could you possibly still be…”

  “I’ve known since I was a child you were my mate. No other man tempted me. Why didn’t I tell you?” She let out a bitter laugh. “Why should I have? So you’d have yet another reason to deny me?”

  “Neiva.”

  The sound of her name on his lips—not ‘Princess’—caused such a pain she nearly cried out.

  “Leave, Rhys. I won’t bother you again.”

  “Let’s talk about this.”

  “Talk? Okay, are you willing to say the words and be my mate?”

  He shook his head slowly. “You know the answer to that.”

  It surprised her that, after all the years of refusals from him, it could still hurt so badly. Tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision.

  “Then we have nothing to talk about.”

  “You honestly thought this would change things. That once I was inside of you I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from saying the words.”

  She flinched at his raised voice. No, that hadn’t been her plan. She really had planned on being satisfied with one night if that was all he’d give her. But when he had started saying the binding words, joy had leapt inside her. Her soul had sung. She had literally felt their souls joining. And then he had stopped. Now she felt nothing. She was hollow inside. And she almost hated him for that.

  “Rhys, I didn’t plan anything. I’m not asking anything of you.” Tears made her voice thicken. “Please leave.”

  Their gazes met, held for a moment, then he flashed himself out of the room without another word.

  A sob caught in her throat and she lay on the bed, drawing into herself. Damn him.

  Chapter Three

  Neiva walked slowly through the gardens again the next morning towards her parents’ dwelling. She could have flashed there but needed the quiet and solitude to think. Her request needed to be well thought out to convince her parents—or rather her father—to let her leave.

  She ached all over, a result of the previous evening with Rhys. Being fey, she healed quickly, of course, and could have made the discomfort of losing her virginity vanish with a thought, but the reminder of her…encounter with Rhys helped strengthen her resolve to go through with her plan.

  She had to phrase her request just right otherwise her father would refuse. It hardly mattered that she was an adult. If the King vetoed it, she would have to obey or risk banishment—daughter or no.

  Her mother would back her up. Neiva wouldn’t confide her true reasons, of course. She’d hidden it from them for so long and they would simply force her and Rhys to be together. And he would hate her for that. No. This was the only way.

  “Neiva.”

  She looked up to see her mother outside their dwelling, kneeling in the garden next to a basket of blooms. The older woman stood and rushed forward to embrace her. Neiva closed her eyes and inhaled the soft scent surrounding Abagail.

  “Is Dad here? I need to talk to both of you.”

  Pulling back, Abagail frowned. “Is everything okay? Nothing is wrong?”

  “No, no. Everything is fine. I just need to talk to you about something, that’s all.” She smiled widely to reassure.

  “Okay. He’s just inside.”

  She followed her mother into a large room where her father sat, feet crossed resting on a table and his head back, eyes closed.

  She grinned and plopped down next to him. “Hey, Dad.”

  He popped one eye open and, draping an arm around her shoulders, pulled her close.

  “’Morning, pipsqueak.”

  Neiva blinked as her eyes burned. She loved moments like this. When he was Dad, not King. Gone was the formality of the previous evening and warm contentment took its place.

  They sat like that, quiet and close, for a few minutes until Abagail came in with tea.

  “So…” she drawled out as she poured. “You said you had something you wanted to talk to us about.”

 
Neiva took her cup and fiddled with the handle, trying to compose her thoughts.

  “Well, I have a request.”

  Her dad quirked an eyebrow, then nodded for her to continue.

  Just spit it out.

  “I’d like permission to go to the human world.”

  Stunned silence hung in the room. Both parents stared at her. Kaelen cleared his throat and took a sip of tea before speaking.

  “I assume you have reasons for this request.”

  “Yes, of course. I am half human. I’d like to explore that part of my heritage. I wonder if perhaps my true mate,” she nearly choked on the words, “is in that realm. Like yours was.”

  “Neiva sweetheart, you are young still. Most don’t find their true mate so early in life,” her father pointed out.

  “Most full-blooded fey.” She hesitated before giving them a sliver of truth. “I feel empty. Like something is missing. I believe going to the human world is the answer. I can stay at the cabin and just figure things out.”

  “You’ve been unhappy?” Her mother’s soft voice soothed the edges of her hurt.

  “Not unhappy exactly. Just…not complete. If you need time to discuss this, I understand. I can come back later.”

  “No, of course not. It is a fine idea. Isn’t it, Kaelen?”

  Her father turned to stare at his wife. “It is?”

  “Yes, she needs to find herself and to do that, she needs to see both sides of herself—the faery and the human.” Her mother nodded and beamed at her. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of it myself.”

  Neiva smiled at her then looked at her father. “Dad?”

  “If you think this is what you need, I’ll not stand in your way. But Neiva, although some laws have changed, others remain. You cannot interfere with human lives by using your gifts. It is—”

  “Strictly forbidden. I know, Dad. I promise to be careful and contact you daily.”

  “Very well.”

  She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I’m going to go prepare some things. Shall I come back for dinner before I go?”

  “That would be wonderful.” Her mom nodded.

  “I’ll see you then.” She flashed herself out of the dwelling and into the main gardens outside the Great Hall. She sat heavily on a bench and sighed. Much less painful than she’d thought. Hope filled her. Maybe in the human world, away from Rhys, she wouldn’t ache so much.

  “Princess Neiva, you look lovely today.”

  Gareth sat next to her and took her hand.

  “Hello, Gareth.”

  “I had hoped you would contact me last eve.” He lifted her hand to his lips.

  “I’m very sorry. There was no time. As it is, I need to go to my dwelling. I am going to the human world for a time to…ah…be with my mother’s family.” She didn’t want to hurt this man because her heart was otherwise engaged—and smashed—by Rhys.

  “I see.” He frowned. “When will you return?”

  “I don’t know. It could be a while. Don’t wait for me, Gareth.” She smiled teasingly, cupping his cheek. “The other girls would have my head if you did.”

  “You love someone else.”

  Neiva jerked back at his sure statement. “I… Gareth, I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to. He is a lucky man. But if you should ever change your mind, contact me.” He smiled.

  Am I so transparent?

  “You’ll be the first. Goodbye, Gareth.” She leaned into him and pressed her lips to his. He cupped both hands around her face and deepened the kiss slightly, opening his mouth and sweeping his tongue around hers before pulling away.

  “Goodbye, Princess. I wish you much happiness.” He stood, touched his fingers to his lips and clasped the hand over his heart. Warmth spread through her at the sign of loyalty. He flashed out of the garden and she was left to ponder her future. Again.

  Rhys fought to control the blinding fury that swept through him. The man had his hands, his mouth on his mate. Again. Everything in Rhys longed to pull the two apart, to grab Neiva and make her his. To say the binding words.

  No. He couldn’t...wouldn’t do that. He had a commitment to his King. For the love of the Goddess, he’d been there when Neiva was born, had watched her grow up. The very idea she was his true mate was laughable.

  He watched as Gareth flashed out of sight, leaving Neiva alone. Yes, it should be laughable, but it wasn’t. She looked so miserable. He ached to go to her, to hold her. Yet he couldn’t without her getting the wrong idea. That was clear after the night before. He would not be trapped. He didn’t like to think of just how close he’d come to joining them for eternity. The memory of her coldness after they’d been together hurt. But not as much as the idea that she’d manoeuvred him into the situation.

  He knew she didn’t understand his refusal. Hell, he was having a hard time understanding it by the day. But he had been a friend and loyal subject to Kaelen for centuries. He was his second-in-command and would not betray the trust his King had placed on him. Even if he did concede and admit Neiva was his true mate, the fact remained she was a youth. A quarter of a century of living compared to his several. If they bonded—if—it must wait. It was unheard of for one of their kind to mate so young.

  He stared at her and felt her unrest, her confusion rolling off her in waves. And anger. Oh yes, anger was there. At him, he had no doubt. Perhaps he should talk to her, try to get her to see they must wait. Surely she’d be willing to compromise on that point. Though he didn’t see how they could be together physically. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing on the rich smells around him. It had been painful to be with her, to find release and hold back the words that battered the inside of his skull. He had focused on the anger then, had been harsh—too harsh, perhaps—with her.

  “Rhys.”

  His eyes opened at the King’s voice.

  “Yes, Kaelen?”

  “Can you come to me? I need to speak to you about an important matter.”

  “Of course, I’ll be there immediately.”

  He gazed at Neiva, shock coursing through him when he saw her silver-blue gaze on him. He inclined his head in her direction. She lifted her chin—every inch the regal Princess—and looked away.

  With a thought, he was in Kaelen and Abagail’s residence. Kaelen rose from his seat on the long sofa. Rhys lowered to his knees and bowed his head.

  “Stand. You know there is no need for that here.” Impatience threaded through Kaelen’s words.

  “You are my King and have my loyalty.” He touched his fingers to his lips before clasping the hand to his chest. He needed the reminder. Particularly after the last evening with Neiva. Guilt swamped him even as his body hardened at the thought.

  “Here we are friends, not King and subject.”

  Rhys stood and grinned at Kaelen. “Of course, my King.”

  “Smart ass.”

  “Rhys.” Abagail strode in the room and immediately embraced him. “Good morn.”

  “How are you feeling?” He pulled away to search her face. “Does this pregnancy have the sickness as the last one?”

  “Not at all. I feel wonderful. Please sit. My husband has a request to make of you.” She rolled her eyes at Kaelen.

  “Abagail, I’m set on this. As much as you may disagree, it’s for her own safety.”

  “I understand your worry. Which is why I’m not fighting you on this.” She sat beside Kaelen on the sofa and took his hand.

  His friend grinned at Rhys as he lowered himself into one of the chairs. “She doesn’t fight me, yet I must endure the rolling of eyes and exasperated looks.”

  “Perhaps you should tell me the request so I can decide whose side I’m on.”

  “Ever the diplomat. It concerns our daughter,” Abagail informed.

  Rhys’ gut tightened. What could this be about? Kaelen mentioned her safety. Was she at risk?

  “Neiva has it in her head to go into the human world,” Kaelen said.
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br />   “She’s been there to visit Abagail’s family. How is this different?”

  “This would be for an extended amount of time. She wants to explore that side of her heritage apparently.”

  “I see. You worry she’ll be unsafe?”

  “There are still supporters of Darrick who have been unaccounted for,” Kaelen stated tersely.

  Anger surged through Rhys at the mention of Kaelen’s cousin. The man who had nearly killed his King to take the throne. Darrick himself had been banished to the Dark Realm—a truly hellish place—but some remained loyal to the bastard.

  Abagail ran her fingertips down Kaelen’s cheek, caressing gently. “There have been no attempts to hurt Neiva.”

  “Because she has always been protected. That will not change.” Kaelen’s voice was steel, boding no argument. “I don’t understand her resolve to go now.”

  “I believe she explained it well enough, sweetheart. You cannot deny she is half human. Besides, she may be right. Her true mate may be human, as yours was.” She leaned and kissed his cheek.

  Blood roared in Rhys’ ears. Her mate? She searched for her mate? Impossible. She knew he was... He shook his head.

  “She said that? That she believed her mate to be in the human world?” he whispered harshly.

  “She brought up the possibility.” Kaelen dismissed this with a wave of his hand. “But her safety is what concerns me.”

  Rhys had denied her for how long and the thought of her searching for another to be with tore at him. Damn her.

  “What do you wish of me? I can certainly put together some men to keep watch over her while she is there. Though she is too young to be mated,” he couldn’t stop himself from adding.

  Abagail raised a brow. “I was her age when I found Kaelen.”

  “Totally different situation.” Rhys thought about who could be gathered to protect the Princess. Certainly not Gareth. The man had too much of an interest in her already.

  “Regardless, she needs protection. I want you to go and keep an eye on her,” Kaelen said firmly.