Fairy Flavor (13 page)

Carrick took one swing and the troll’s mouth fell open. There was a

liquid gasp before it fell to the ground, his knife still in its throat. “Do you care to tell me the truth?” He faced the other captive. It simply shook his head and

lowered his body. “Tell your king, another hill is mine. He will return my

queen untouched.” He kicked the silent bastard in the gut. Watched it roll and

hobble into the surrounding woods.

“There’s no sign of her…” Thame murmured.

“There never is.” He turned back to the moon. “Where in the Goddess’

name is Brook?”

****

long shirt and some demure gold panties. There was a whole wardrobe in the

big closet near the balcony doors. It made life that much easier, even

considering everything that had happened.

She was a cheater. Her heart fluttered at the thought. She had to tell

him when they awoke that this was it. Either he would bring her through the

forest or she would leave on her own and attempt to find home. She could not

stay here and drift further from Carrick.

She also couldn’t lie in this damned lonely bed any longer. Brook sat

up just as a knife swung. The mattress behind her let out a telltale
rip
.

Someone was trying to kill her! She screamed, yes, it was girly, and hell yeah,

she was scared.

This figure shifted, the glint of the blade aimed at her once again.

Brook automatically lifted her foot and kicked, it seemed like the best option

for the situation. The blade went flying and landed with a thud but the

shadowed figure leapt and jumped on top of her. Pain spread across her back as

fists battered. She bucked. The attacker fell over and she grabbed a slim neck.

Instantly, she knew it was Grace. Blonde hair tangled around her

fingers, but she kept squeezing. The bitch was trying to kill her. A fist landed

against her unprotected side, and she hunched only to have two small feet slam

into her ribcage. It hurt so fucking bad she fell back. Banging, pounding,

yelling, she had no time to deal with the noises that surrounded them. Two

more sets of hands grabbed her hair from behind, and she knew the other

blonde was in on this jump.

Brook fought like a street girl, though she had no experience anywhere

near the street. She kicked, swung her arms, pulled hair and even bit an arm.

There was no going down, not like this by two jealous whores.

Bridget jumped onto her back and she landed hard. The breath rushed

out of her lungs as her cheeks slammed into the hardwood floor. Pain exploded,

fists berated her back and someone grabbed her hair only to shove her head

into the floor once more. She growled. These two skinny blondes were kicking

her ass.

“No fucking way…” Her elbow swung back, connected. She rolled,

grabbed a good handful of silky locks and yanked with all her strength. A

scream resonated, and it sounded oh so sweet. She kicked upward, heard a gut

wrenching cry and tossed the dumb bitch toward the balcony doors.

The knife was suddenly at her throat. The sharp blade stung against her

tender flesh. Her hands wrestled with Grace’s, their bodies locked in an

intimate, supine embrace. She was not going to die like this. The blade slipped

lower, closer to the delicate flesh of her neck.

Valen yanked Grace off her. Flinging her like a rag doll into the wall,

she lay slumped on the floor as he dropped to his knees. “My God…Brook, are

you okay?” He gently touched her neck.

This was not her best day ever, but her neck wasn’t bleeding, so she’d

count it as a win. She just laid there, her back screamed in protest of every

movement and her right cheek throbbed incessantly. At least that meant they

missed her eye.

Valen stood. “Grace, Bridget…I see now I have kept you here too

long.” Both battered women stood on shaky feet. “You are banished from my

home and from my life. If you ever touch Brook again…I will kill you.” His

voice was low and his fury evident in his tone.

“Valen, please…” Bridget began to cry, her tone unsteady.

“Valen, we love you. She’s an intruder. You can’t trust her. Please

don’t send us away!” More tears fell, but Brook was happy to see her tears

slide down a bruised face. At least she got some damn good punches in.

“Get the fuck out!” he roared and Brook flinched on the floor. Two

small figures dressed in black hobbled out of the room, long blonde hair

trailing behind them. “I am so sorry, Brook…”

He lifted her and she let out a deep, painful groan. Her back was on fire.

It felt like lightning had struck her spine repeatedly. For two little bitches, they

packed some serious punches. She was so stiff, the simple act of being placed

on the bed made her cry out. “I need a bottle of vodka…” she muttered and

stared down as Valen’s hand clasped hers.

“I’ll get you some healing root tea; you’ll be back to kicking ass in no

time.”

The words made her grin, which hurt way too much to continue.

“That’s me…bad ass Brook.” Valen laughed. It was the perfect sound to close

her eyes to, sweet, deep and sinful.

“Rest….”

His lips pressed against her palm and then she did as he said. She didn’t

fall asleep, just rested her eyes as he left the room.

She listened closely should the evil twins return for round two. She

was not quite up to par at the moment. The heavy breathing from the fight

made her lungs burn in protest. Her cheek, shit, there had to be some serious

bruising, it felt like her skin had swelled to a golf ball. Well this was, hands

down, the worst way to wake up.

****

Bridget away from the woman that managed to conquer his heart. He’d kept

them here too long. They had become too dependent on his love and he had

none to give. The concept of true love did not exist until Brook.

“You decided your own fate the moment you threatened my woman

with a knife.” It felt good calling her that, even better when he opened the door

and pushed the two murderous women out.

They stumbled, clung to his body as if he was shoving them off a cliff.

“I don’t want you back here.” He shut the door. They banged and cried,

pleaded for a second chance. He had no pity to dole out. Right now, he had to

focus on winning Brook, because the king was no fool.

Eventually, he would find his fairy queen and Valen wanted her in his

arms when Carrick tried to claim her. He set the cool kettle on the stove and

grabbed his tea. The bag contained Angelica, Yarrow, lemon and some honey.

He simple dropped all of them in the warm water and let them simmer. This

would heal her physical wounds and hopefully, he could heal everything else,

including the ache in their bodies.

****

Here she was again, left with her thoughts and they were not kind.

Brook tried to shift and decided against it. The ache dulled but she in no way

wanted to start up the throb again. She heard Valen’s soft footsteps, and the

door closed.

She inwardly groaned, the comforter was around her waist but she

really wanted pants on during their next encounter. Of course, she couldn’t

bend over and shove them on then jump back into bed. Apparently, that was

too much to ask for. His hand touched hers, and she opened her eyes to his

handsome face.

“Tilt your head…”

She did.

“Open your lips…”

Another nod and she squeezed her thighs together. The cold rim of the

porcelain mug touched her mouth.

“Swallow…”

Okay, was she just being perverted? Why did this sound like the end of

a skillful blowjob?

“It doesn’t taste that bad, I swear…”

A giggle threatened her dignity; she didn’t want to spill tea all over her

hard nipples, because he would clean it up. That was beyond her ability to

resist, but she managed to swallow some of the warm liquid.

“I added some honey so it would taste sweeter…”

Composure cracked, she snorted, hid her smile behind the mug.

“Sorry…” she said as he pulled the cup from her reach.

“What’s so funny?”

He had a completely perplexed expression that drew her eyes to his.

She was ready to shift so she could focus on the pain when he lowered; his

mouth inches from her, his breath teasing her flesh.

“I’m very glad you find humor…even now.”

“It’s either laugh or find a crow bar to beat the shit out of them with.”

She couldn’t control the breathiness in her voice as he leaned closer.

“…or I could kiss you…”

Protest
, she yelled at herself, but then his lips swept all thought away.

Valen’s mouth brought a passion that overcame even the pain in her back. His

tongue swiped across her lips, entered her mouth to duel, and she surrendered

without a fight. His hands were beside her head, his body so close heat radiated,

but he didn’t touch her.

She ached for him, her mind sought pleasure to forget about the day’s

events. She moaned between kisses. He pushed her head to the side and those

lips went wild on her neck. Sucking and licking until she was ready to beg.

Then her lips parted and she wanted to scream his name. His name, not Carrick,

but Valen.

Instantly, she tensed up and pushed on his chest. He moved away

willingly, his lips plump as he stared at her with predator eyes.

“Make sure you finish all your tea…” he was still close enough to kiss

away her protests.

“I will,” she whispered. Her eyes were drawn to his lips, and he smiled

at her before he leaned back. He didn’t say another word as he walked to the

door and shut it quietly behind him. Brook took a huge breath and drank the

damn tea.

There is no point in life. Without Valen, Grace knew there was not a

single reason to live. She wouldn’t be able to sleep or eat or love another now

that she has been with her true love. The wind took her hair, tangled the locks

that he once loved. She glanced over at Bridget, her hair just as wild, her feet

hanging off the cliff. Her friend was silent the whole walk to the deserted

stretch. “What will we do?” What was the point of doing anything? They were

so alone.

“What will
you
do?” Bridget asked, and then pushed off the rocks.

She flew, truly embraced the sky as her body silently tumbled and she

joined the mighty, churning sea. Grace could not yank her eyes away. Bridget

had no wings, yet leapt toward heaven and maybe behind the pearly gates was

a Valen that needed love.

“Grace!”

She turned at Valen’s voice. Hope surged within every cell. He was

running toward her, his hands outstretched and then he slowed, edged

cautiously toward her with wide eyes. Had he returned to love her once more?

“Don’t jump! Dear God, don’t jump!”

“You came for me? I knew it was a ruse. I knew you loved me.” She

took a step toward him.

****

he spoke, his palms up in surrender, words chosen carefully.

“Toxins?”

“Yes, please Grace, that’s why you feel so desperate…It’ll pass. You

can still live a good life. This is my fault. I kept you too long. I didn’t want to

be alone anymore.” He had been so lonely for so long and when they showed

up. He wanted to forget that for a while but a while turned into years and that

apparently had a fatal effect. “Your village is only a day’s walk. Please…do

not end your life.”

“Do you love me?” She stepped back, the sea rumbled below.

“Yes,” he lied, if only he could get close enough to grab her. Did she

see it in his eyes? Could she tell the words were lies? It hadn’t always been

there, this lack of affection toward her. The moment he laid his eyes on Brook

his heart faltered and he knew he could be with no other. She must have seen

something because tears slowly slid down her pale cheeks.” “You may not

want my heart Valen but it will always be yours,” she spoke quietly, and his

eyes widened.

“Please…please Grace…”

She closed her eyes and simply fell backwards. The wind blended with

his cries, the rocks scrapped her bare feet and the water still called a friendly

greeting.

Valen knelt at the edge of the cliff as she met the sea with open arms.

His wet eyes could not blur the view as he witnessed her death.

“Goddess…take Grace and Bridget under your wings. Though I am not worthy

of your love, I pray you take these two into your beautiful kingdom. Protect

them as I could not…”

He glanced out at sea and a flock of seagulls cried out. This is why he

could not trust himself with a lover. This is why it had to be Brook. She was

different, the one he was meant to love, and the women he would find true

happiness with.

****

the troll’s lack of knowledge. This hill had not been as easy to breach as the

others had. Under the moonlight was a great battled that was short-lived. A few

armed trolls stood no chance at victory against pissed off fairies. The gorgeous

forest floor lay littered with corpses. Normally fresh air smelt of death and