“Feel what you do to me, Noele. I am hot and hard and ready for you.” Panting at the meal table would be unseemly, but by the stars she struggled to maintain even breathing.
Garick’s wicked smile unnerved her, and when he moved his hips and thrust his cock upwards against her hand, she nearly whimpered out loud.
“Are you ready to feel my shaft inside you, my faerie? Do you think about how it will feel?” She was certain her face flamed red from embarrassment. How could he discuss something so intimate with all these people around? And yet, she felt compelled to answer. “Yes.”
“I, too, think about it. Your pussy will be hot, a tight sheath surrounding me. I look forward to consummation eve.”
Instinctively, she began to rub his shaft, wishing they were alone, wishing she could open his breeches and take his hard cock in her hands, stroke him until he spilled his seed over her fingers or in her mouth.
She wanted to offer him the same release as she had enjoyed earlier, but didn’t dare do anything in a public place such as this.
“I want your mouth on my cock.”
She stilled, her entire body shifting from this public arena to a time when the two of them would have privacy. “I’d…I’d like that.”
“I’ll dismiss the room. We can be alone. After our marriage tomorrow, we won’t—”
“My king, a word with you in private, if I may?”
Noele quickly moved her hand from Garick’s lap and turned her attention to the guard standing before them.
“Now?” he asked, his voice gruff.
Noele allowed a small smile, knowing why he sounded so irritated.
“It is urgent, my king.”
With a sigh, Garick adjusted his breeches and stood, turning to Noele. “I trust you can find you way back to your chambers?”
“Aye, that I can.”
“I will see you in the morn, then.” He turned and walked off with the guard.
What had he been about to say? After tomorrow he wouldn’t what? He wouldn’t be her lover, her husband? Would he turn her over to Roarke?
It was clear where his duty lay…with his people. It seemed to occupy his mind completely. Perhaps he did not have time for a wife and did not want to be burdened with her.
Then again, there were times when he looked at her or said something that led her to believe he wanted her, not simply for the required consummation, but for always.
She was reading too much into his body language, his eyes. He felt nothing for her and had already hinted at not wanting to keep her.
It shouldn’t matter which man she ended up with. She didn’t know Garick any more than she knew Roarke. Both were well pleasing to the eye, and while Roarke had not yet pleasured her, she imagined he would not leave her wanting.
Why couldn’t she make the choice? Why was it that her entire future lay in Garick’s hands?
Suddenly realizing she was alone in the great hall, she stood and flew up the stairs to her room. She looked out the window, across the barren fields to the rich green forest of D’Naath.
Never before had she stopped to think how unfair this situation was. Not until the full impact hit her. Her very future was at the mercy of someone else’s whims.
And that someone else had made it quite clear he had no use for her, other than sexually.
Tomorrow she would marry. By the next day, she would know her future. A future she would have no part in deciding.
With a wistful sigh she stared at the forests, for the first time in her life feeling utterly alone.
Garick paced his chambers, grumbling orders at his assembled warriors, wanting to ensure all steps were taken to insure the wizards would not appear during the mating ceremony today.
After he’d cursed them all and ordered them out, Roarke approached him.
“You have a burr up your ass this morning?”
He would only allow Roarke, his life protector, to speak to him that way. “I slept very little last eve.”
“Difficult to sleep when your cock’s hard?”
Garick glared at his friend, who only smirked. Unfortunately, Roarke was right. He’d not slept at all, his shaft pulsing with need for the faerie who was to become his bride today. Many times throughout the wakeful hours he’d wanted to stroke himself to release. Instead, he forced himself to wait, knowing what pleasures he would have today with Noele.
It had taken great will to pull himself away from her and walk out of the room yesterday. What he had wanted to do was sink his shaft deep inside her and make her his own. Possess her, mark her in some way, so that no one could ever claim her.
He shook his head at his wayward thoughts. Those were emotions unlike anything Garick had experienced before. Other than fucking for release, he’d never truly wanted a woman before.
To desire the faerie who was to be his mate, whom he’d sworn to protect…by all that was magical in the heavens, it was too much for him. He had to focus on his duty, not on his emotions. This mating between he and Noele had been ordained to unite their kingdoms, to strengthen their hold on the northern territories.
It was not for love or emotion or passion. Those ideals were beyond him…he was incapable.
Roarke’s snort brought him out of his reverie.
“What?”
“You keep trying to convince yourself you’re not falling in love with the faerie princess. It isn’t working.
You’ll be drooling at her feet by nightfall.”
His protector’s smirk only heightened his irritation. “Don’t you have some duties to attend to, Roarke?”
“Yes. I must stand by my king for the entire day and evening.” It was times like these that Garick wished for one moment alone both in thought and in presence. With a sigh, he allowed himself to be readied for the ceremony.
* * * * *
“Noele! You are not paying attention!”
She looked up at the sound of Solara’s voice. “Did you say something?” Solara fluttered her wings rapidly and stamped her foot. “Your mind wanders, Noele. We must finish if we are to arrive at the meadow on time.”
The meadow. Shortly she’d be married there, and still have no idea what her future held. Insecurity surrounded her, making her wish for her old life where she knew what each day held. Now, a mystery unfolded with every passing second.
Would Garick accept her? Would he cast her aside in favor of another? And why was it only his choice to make? Why did she have no voice?
“Because it is the way of faerie,” Trista responded to her thoughts.
“I know the customs and rituals, Tris. Which does not mean I have to like them.”
“He will not cast you aside,” Mina said, her copper eyes warm as the sun. “How could he not love you as we do?”
Tears welled in Noele’s eyes as Mina gently caressed her hair. She pushed aside the aching sense of loss. Soon her sisters would be leaving her. “You are right. It is time to prepare.” Focusing on her duty instead of her emotions, she allowed herself to be dressed in the stark white colors of her bridal gown. The buttery soft garment fit her snugly at the breasts and waist, flowing to the floor and behind her in a narrow train. Long sleeves curved out into a bell shape at her fingertips. Small slits had been created in the back to fit her wings, allowing them to spread out wide.
A wreath of sterling silver roses was placed on her head, her hair curling in streams down to her waist.
“A man would have to be a fool not to be enraptured by your magical beauty, my queen.” Isolde bowed, her eyes glistening with tears.
Noele reached for the young girl and smiled. “Thank you, Isolde.”
“Tis true,” Solara said, her own eyes welling with moisture. “You are so beautiful, my adored sister. I wish you happiness on this your marriage day.”
Her sisters surrounded her, gifting her with spells of love, fertility, passion and happiness. If only those spells would work on Garick, then perhaps she would not be cast aside.
Oh, what did it matter? She had no more feelings for him than he had for her. She wanted only to get past this ceremony, past tonight, and then live the life she would be given.
The life she could not choose for herself.
Sighing deeply, she affected a smile for her sisters. “Please, accompany me to the meadow.” Choking back the fear and longing for her former freedom, Noele trailed behind her sisters as they left the hall and headed outside.
The gods smiled on her today, gifting her with a warm, sunny morning. A large crowd assembled before them. Fluttering her wings nervously, she smiled tentatively, hoping they would welcome her into their community.
She breathed a sigh of relief when wide grins and applause greeted her entrance.
The meadow was huge and overlooked the northern sea. The view was breathtaking, and lifted her spirits for the first time today.
The crowds parted to reveal a long, white carpet leading to an elaborately carved arch. Rose s, jonquils, tuliberries and dolaflowers weaved their colors through the lattice over the arch. Silver and lavender streamers blew lazily in the slight wind. The sun glinted off the waters, lending the whitecaps a silvery shimmer.
It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. Had this been a love match, she would be giddy with happiness at the breathtaking surroundings. This was a perfect place, a perfect day, to marry one she loved.
And one who loved her.
But this marriage was not a love match. She feared Garick did not have the slightest idea what love was.
She slowed her wings to keep from flying away. Her fear, at least momentarily, had dissipated. How could she not love the freedom of the outdoors? The beauty of Castle Winterland’s meadow was nearly as lovely as the forest glen of D’Naath.
More importantly, how could she not be awestruck at her soon-to-be husband waiting underneath the arches? Dressed in black breeches and a longcoat of a matching color, his dark hair blew away from his face in the slight wind, revealing his handsome features.
His eyes darkened at her approach. Despite Noele’s determination to feel nothing today, trepidation filled her mind at his straight-faced visage. She swallowed past the dryness in her throat and wished for a cooling drink of D’Naathian spring water.
The high priest, tall and reed-thin in flowing black robes, motioned her forward. He inclined his head, smiled at her, then directed Garick to take her hands in his.
Garick turned to her. Noele fought for control as his gaze burned hotly into hers. What thoughts lay behind his scowling face, she did not know. Fearing the worst, she refused to speculate what her fate might be.
The high priest started, the ceremony steeped in elvin ritual. “Yea, let it be known in all the forests and castles of the northern kingdoms, that today, the first day of the Winter Solstice, Garick, King of Winterland, marries Noele, Princess of D’Naath.”
A huge round of applause went up, the cacophony of cheers roaring through Noele’s ears. The priest raised his hand and when all was once again silent, he continued.
“Garick, thou must pledge to honor thy wife, protect her against all enemies, and bring forth children to seal thy union and further the continuation of the two kingdoms. Thou will retain right of castoff if the faerie princess fails to please thee at the consummation this eve. If thou so choose, Noele of D’Naath will be given to thy Protector, Roarke. Their children will be thy children and fall under thy protecting hand for the remainder of their lives. If thou so agree to this, reply with ‘aye’.”
“Aye.”
Noele let her eyes close for the briefest of seconds at the thought she could so thoughtlessly be given away. She felt no better than one of the horses the elvin warriors rode.
Before the high priest’s words could sink in, he turned to her.
“Princess Noele of D’Naath, thou must pledge eternal loyalty to King Garick of Winterland. Thou agree to abide by the wishes of thy husband, and willingly accept the elvin customs described here today. If thou so agrees to this, reply with ‘aye’.”
It occurred to her for the briefest of moments to refuse to put her future in the hands of one man, without her thoughts, her desires, even considered. Yet duty pulled at her and she gave the only response she was honor bound to give.
“Aye.”
“Let it be known throughout the kingdoms of Winterland and D’Naath, that King Garick has wed the Princess, Noele. By all the powers that are holy and revered, I bestow a marriage upon thee both. May blessings of magic, prosperity and children grace the rest of thy days.” Garick lifted her hand and slid a heavy silver band on her index finger, then brought it to his lips, sealing the settling of the ring with a kiss that flamed her skin.
The ring weighed heavily on her hand, a reminder that she was now bound to Garick. Her very future lay in his hands.
Before she could ponder any further, he pulled her against him, his eyes searching her face, then gently brushed his lips against hers. She held her breath, struck by the tenderness in his kiss.
Without thinking, she reached up and caressed his cheek with her trembling hand. Tears came, unbidden, and pooled in her eyes.
Garick frowned, taking her wrist in his hand and pulling it down to her side. Then he gathered her hard against his chest and seared her mouth in a kiss that stole the breath from her lungs. Hard and punishing, his tongue plunged inside and wrestled with hers. ‘Twas not a kiss of emotion or tenderness…but annoyance, irritation, anger.
Noele reached up and placed her palms on Garick’s chest, pushing gently to break the kiss. He pulled away and gazed down at her, his dark eyes pinning her.
What had changed? When he first kissed her it had been gentle, dare she say emotional. She’d felt his tenderness. Then when she touched him, his face had changed to one of irritation.
But why? Was he unhappy? Had she done something wrong? His expression gave her no clarity.
What could she possibly have done to anger him?
The question plagued her throughout the day’s festivities. After the joining ceremony, they’d moved into the courtyard. Food, drink and merriment of all sorts ensued.