Seducing Destiny (12 page)

Chapter Seventeen

I was led up the stairs until I stood before the satin draped bed that was covered in pillows. Like most beds associated with Ryder, it was huge. As I approached the bed, rose petals rained down from the sky. I smiled as I brought my hand out to catch one, and then lifted it to my nose to inhale the fragrance deeply.

I turned to Ryder who watched me silently. His hands shook slightly, as if he was nervous. “Did Ristan plan this?” I asked, knowing he’d helped Ryder plan most of his romantic escapades, but this one felt different. It felt real, as if he’d done it all himself.

“That depends,” he whispered throatily as he watched me through hooded eyes.

“On?” I continued.

“Do you like it?”

“No,” I shook my head and somehow managed to hide the smile.

“Oh,” he said as he deflated a bit.

“I love it,” I smirked.

“Naughty girl,” he growled and shook his head. “This one is all me,” he admitted. “I could have followed what Ristan suggested, but I wanted this one to be ours. No one else knows exactly what I planned for you, and no one helped. Fuck,” he sighed. “I’m no good at this wooing shit.”

“Actually, this is better than anything the Demon could have planned. The others, they lacked your touch and so they meant less, but this,” I said as I took another look around the area. “This is you, and that means more than flowers and chocolate. I don’t need romance, but it’s nice. I wanted your love, but only because I loved you so much that it hurt to feel it without thinking it could be returned.”

“You’re a one of a kind jewel, Synthia Raine,” he said as he sifted to the bed and reclined on it. He placed his arms behind his head and watched me languidly. “Will you strip for me?”

“No glamouring off my clothes?” I asked. I was so used to him controlling everything, including how quickly my clothes melted off, that I was almost shocked that he was asking.

“No magic, not tonight. I’ve never taken anything slowly, but I plan to savor you tonight. I plan to make love to the woman who captured my heart,” he rumbled.

“Stole it,” I smirked as I pushed my hair from my shoulders to show him everything. My hair was thicker now, and longer than it had ever been. I slowly reached up to remove the first layer of my dress. The Goddess dress was wispy, but the layers had ensured that it covered the parts it had needed to.

I pulled the top off and smiled as he exhaled a shaky breath as my stomach was exposed for his viewing pleasure. I smiled shyly, enjoying the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach that came with being with Ryder, as if every time with him was my first.

“Stop thinking,” he said with a wicked smile filling his mouth.

“You’re overdressed yourself, Fairy,” I whispered with lust thick in my tone.

“That’s an easy fix, Pet,” he whispered and glamoured off his own clothing, breaking his own rule.

I removed the top of the dress completely, and watched as his eyes lowered to the rosy tips of my nipples which grew taut in the subtle wind as rose petals continued to fall on us. I brought my hands up to rub the sensitive tips as his eyes greedily watched the slow, sensual motion they made.

Gone was the hypersensitivity from pregnancy, and in its place was the sensation of his eyes consuming them without a touch.

“Pinch them,” he urged, and I followed his command and pinched each with my fingers.

His hands refused to move from where they rested behind his head, and I knew he held them there to resist the urge to touch me. I brought my hands away from my breasts and undid the bow that held the dress together, exposing his greedy gaze to the silk panties.

“Come to me,” he said and I did, slowly taking my time to reach his hungry mouth, which I longed to kiss.

I was almost to it when he sat up and pushed me down on the bed. His eyes were liquid gold as he slowly parted my legs and growled at the sheerness of my panties. “You’re wet,” he acknowledged, and I smiled.

“You have that effect on me,” I admitted.

“Good, ‘cause this is mine now, forever. This is mine to savor,” he said as he rubbed his knuckles roughly over the sensitive nub. “Anytime, anywhere, any place I want it,” he continued and watched as I lifted my hips and allowed my legs to drop at the knees for him.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“I love the taste of you in my mouth, the exquisiteness of you on my tongue while I stroke you and caress you from the inside,” he continued as he lowered his mouth and blew hot air across my core. “Ever since I took the first taste of you, I’ve been unable to stop craving it. When you walk into a room, my tongue wants to seek this sweet haven out, my nose searches for the sweet scent of your arousal. My senses seek your readiness, and my balls grow tight with the need to release their pent up tension between your sweet lips, or deep in this sweet pussy.”

Yeah, there he was: my Ryder. The sweet, dirty talking Fairy that could make my mind go blank with his dirty mouth.

He removed his mouth and lifted one of my legs, his fingers deftly working the ties of the sandal as he kissed my inner thigh. His other hand trailed softly down until he pushed at my opening through the fabric of the panties.

“Soaking wet already, Pet,” he growled right before his teeth nipped at my flesh and then kissed it. He did the same with the other leg, kissing and nipping as he released my foot from the sandal.

When he had removed both, he tossed them aside and raised his eyes to the petals that still rained down on us. One moment they’d been lightly raining down on us, and the next they stopped in midair. The bed was covered with them, we were covered in them.

He moved up until he sat beside me, his hands moving to remove the panties and expose my wetness to his gaze. His fingers stroked over it, slowly, until his forefinger found the nub, which he stroked continuously for a few moments before he lowered his head and stroked it roughly with his tongue.

“Fucking delicious,” he whispered huskily before he pushed a single finger deep inside of me. “I’m thinking one time of making love and one time of fucking you won’t be enough, not tonight.”

“Ryder,” I whispered, worried about our babies.

“Give me tonight,” he said calmly. “Tomorrow we can be with them, but tonight is ours. I have my brothers and your handmaidens protecting them; nothing will get to those babies. I am sure Danu is with them as well; not visibly, but there still.”

He withdrew the finger, and replaced it with his thick thumb. He pushed it inside, only to pull it back out. His mouth kissed my stomach, and then moved up to capture one nipple between his teeth. He growled, sending a new wave of heat rushing through me. He released the hold his teeth had held, and used his tongue to caress it. When he finished with it, he moved on to do the same to the other one.

His thumb moved inside of me, using the juices he was creating to move faster. I watched his dark head as he continued to suck on my nipples and slowly kiss his way to my mouth. When he reached my mouth, he removed his thumb and moved over me.

He kissed me deeply, slowly, until I thought I would drown from lack of oxygen. He took my air away on purpose, and I didn’t care this time, because he fed it back to me seductively, as he had once before. He captured my face and held it between his hands as he kissed me, almost as if his survival depended on it.

When he pulled away, I cried out from the loss of his mouth against mine, from the loss of his lips melting together with mine. He sat between my legs, his cock poised at my entrance, but he didn’t enter me, instead he slowly rubbed the tip of his cock against the sleekness of juices he’d created.

“This pussy needs to be fucked,” he said.

“Yes, like now,” I encouraged him.

“Patience,” he urged.

“Ryder…” I tried to put the need I felt in my tone, but it came out as a benediction.

He pushed inside, but only an inch, and then pulled back out as his eyes watched me. His eyes consumed me with their golden heat as he took in my need, and smiled knowingly in reply.

“This is easier than I thought it would be,” he whispered. “I can do slow and easy.”

“Mmm,” I replied and then gasped as he entered me again. I’d expected inches, instead I got it all. His hands held my legs apart, but then he released them both and leaned over my body until his mouth captured mine.

“I love this,” he whispered as he began to move his hips slowly. “Being buried inside of you, hearing the noises you make as I take you. Feeling your body as it welcomes me in and caresses my cock.”

He found a pace that mirrored my own, and I wrapped my hands lovingly around his neck as his mouth claimed mine. The world around us faded away. He kissed, caressed, and continued to slowly fuck me. It wasn’t until we both exploded in harmony that he smiled roguishly and sat back on his heels.

“Now that I managed to slowly make you come, I’m going to fuck you.”

“Thank God,” I whispered with a wicked smile as his eye grew round and large.

“You didn’t like that?” he asked confused.

“No, I loved it, but I love how you fuck me. Gentleness is nice, Fairy, but I like the leg shivering, hair pulling, sweaty bodied, earth shattering fucking that you always give me,” I said, cocky and taunting him with my core as I spread my legs for his eyes to take in my need.

I felt his magic wash over me as he cleaned us both and then watched as his eyes grew dark and an even darker smile took hold of his mouth. “Thank Gods,” he said finally. “Because I love making you scream, and I love making this sweet flesh sore…”

I grinned, but it was short lived as he pulled me up until I was on my knees in front of him, and then pushed down by my hair as he pushed his cock against my lips. “Be a good girl, and suck,” he growled.

I did as he commanded; taking what he pushed inside, and pulled it back out. His hands released my hair, and he pushed me backward, his hands pulling at my legs as he pushed them apart and then held them open.

“Ready?” he grinned.

“I’m always ready for you, Fairy,” I whispered and then screamed his name as he plunged inside until my body couldn’t take anymore of him. He used his Fae speed as he rocked and moved his hips until I exploded, and my ears rang from the sheer pleasure of his assault.

He continued to pound into me, and when I thought I’d come again, he stopped and pulled me up using only my hips as he moved me to my stomach and lifted my ass in the air. I moved my hips invitingly, only to scream out as his hand landed on one cheek punishingly and then moan as his hand massaged the area.

He did that a few times, and each time, I could feel my core growing ready for him. I turned my head, trying to steal a glance at him, but he growled.

“Face forward,” he demanded.

I did, and as I did, I felt him moving my legs, until I was spread fully for him. It was uncomfortable, and yet I could sense just how exposed I was. I felt his magic as it wafted over my flesh, kissing my cheek where his hand had punished the tissue, and I was unprepared for his entrance as he slid inside of me.

He pushed inside with one swift move, and I cried his name at the sheer volume of him buried deep inside of me. “Good girl,” he growled seductively as I continued to cry his name like a mantra. “Give me your hands,” he urged, and when I did, he pushed my own hands to my ass, and gave a command in a tone that brooked no argument. “Hold yourself apart, and don’t let go.”

I nodded, and then tensed as his thumb pressed against the second opening. “Let go for me, be my good girl, and stop tensing before I have to punish you.”

I gave myself a mental shake and cried out as he pushed inside, his thumb soaked and slick from the juices he’d pilfered from my soaked pussy. His thumb began to move the same moment his cock did, and I felt the heat growing, and unfurling in my belly as I began to shake with the oncoming orgasm.

He moved faster, his free hand pushed against my spine. My hands held me open and fully exposed for his pleasure. His body was sating my hunger, no longer the hunger to sustain life, but a hunger for this man who had mastered and seduced my soul.

“I can feel you growing wetter. I can feel your sweet pussy gripping my cock as it prepares for release. You want to come on my cock, don’t you, Pet?” he growled.

“Yes,” I cried out.

“Good, ‘cause I’m coming with you,” he whispered as he moved even faster, his body hitting mine with inhuman speed as he gave me an earth moving orgasm, and then growled as his own body tensed with his. I almost giggled with the way his brands were still lit up with the power surge that I had been pushing through him every time I had come tonight. Soon, he’d look like a Christmas tree.

“I love you, Fairy,” I said as he lay down beside me on the sweat covered satin sheets.

“I love you too, Witch,” he whispered as he pulled me tightly against his body and claimed my lips. “Sleep, we have a few hours left before the sun rises in Faery, and then we have to pick names for our sweet little ones.”

“Minions of darkness,” I offered.

“Yes, that could have potential,” he replied impishly. “But I’m not sure you should call them that.”

“No, I kinda like the minions of darkness; seriously, I’ve always wanted minions.”

“You can be my minion,” he offered with a self-assured smile on his mouth.

I slapped his arm and felt my heart melt more as his smile filled his mouth and love lit in his eyes. A real smile had replaced his normal cockier one.

“No woman could ever give me what you have,” he said softly. “I’ll spend eternity loving you, Synthia. And tormenting you in my bed, until you admit who your master is,” he finished.

“I have no master,” I whispered sleepily. “I’ll have a husband soon, and the love of my life. No master though,” I continued.

“I guess we’re not done here,” he replied roguishly.

Chapter Eighteen

I awoke to Ryder’s startled jump from the bed, his beast coming to the fore as he shifted form. “Get dressed,” he growled, and then looked at the dress I’d worn and its multiple layers. He didn’t hesitate, and instead he glamoured us both clothes.

His was a tight t-shirt, and loose fitting jeans. My outfit was a backless tank top, and a pair of kick ass jeans with a large, silver disc belt buckle. I smiled as he pulled me against his frame, but the happiness was short lived as the words slipped from my mind. “Is it the babies?”

“They’re fine, but something is wrong in Faery. I can feel it,” he explained and then sifted us back the Horde stronghold.

We paused at the nursery door, and then he opened it.

We both stood motionless at what met our eyes. Z was in the corner, rubbing his temples, while the other men sat or lay on the floor making silly noises at the infants that lay swaddled on the fluffy rug surrounded by the horde of men.

“Yes, and your mother—” Dristan stopped midsentence as he looked up at the open door.

“No, Dristan, by all means. Continue,” I said as my eyes narrowed on him.

“—Kissed me, and then put me to sleep.”

I smiled as heat stole up his cheeks and Ryder glared down at his baby brother.

“Keeping them entertained with stories are we?” Ryder growled as he looked down at the tiny babies. His gruff nature gave way to a smile of pride as he took them in.

“My King!” one of the servants shouted as she ran for Ryder.

I watched as she rushed to him, threw herself at his feet, and wrapped her arms around his legs. She paused in her wails and seemed to finally notice what she had done, and crab walked backwards away from him.

“What is it?” he asked without even asking her name.

“The Tree, it’s been iced!” she screamed, which caused one of the boys to start crying.

I watched silently as my heart sank, and Dristan instinctively picked up the baby and began to soothe him. I didn’t need to know which tree they spoke of, because there was only one in Faery that could cause a panic like this. Without the Tree, the land couldn’t accept the children even with Danu’s blessing. The Fae children who survived to Transition had both Danu’s blessing and the acceptance of Faery. Without both, the children stood a higher chance of becoming sick and dying, specifically iron sick as that was what the land had originally been poisoned with. It was a slow and awful death for the children that couldn’t combat it.

“Iced, how?” Ryder growled as I watched his hands ball into fist.

“The guard just said iced, my King. He’s waiting for you in the throne room.”

I watched the determination play upon Ryder’s features as his eyes took in the sight of his Elite Guard playing with the tiny infants. Full grown men had been making cooing sounds, and sitting in a full circle around the babies as if they were nannies.

“Zahruk, Dristan, and Aodhan with me,” he said firmly. “The rest, continue to…”

“Entertain our children,” I finished for him with a small smile.

They all looked up from the babies and smiled. I followed Ryder, feeling a twinge of regret as I left my babies in the very capable hands of the Elite Guard, who’d been rendered Elite Nannies. When we entered the throne room, it was to find a guard covered in frost, his body trembling with the remnants of ice that seemed to be growing as we watched.

“That’s not just ice, it looks like an enchantment spell of some kind,” Ryder growled. “Call for a fire Fairy, now!” he shouted at those who seemed helpless to do more than watch the poor guy as frost and ice seemed to be overtaking his entire body.

“Is this something the Mages could have done?” I asked carefully, trying not to cause panic.

“Yes,” Ryder answered as he reached over and grabbed my hand, then pulled me behind him, away from the ice that had formed on the floor. “Get me the Winter Elves; maybe they can figure something to prevent his death,” he said to Zahruk who stood silently beside us.

“There’s no need for that,” a woman in a silky white cape said as she dropped the hood of her cloak, exposing her face.

Her features were sharp, but ethereally beautiful. She had hair the color of a fresh blanket of snow. It was piled high in a bun on the top of her head. A silver ribbon was threaded through it beautifully. Her eyes were blue, the color of ice as it frosted over the lakes midst a deep freeze. On her forehead were gems, white in color that matched her lips, and went well with the blue coloring around her eyes. Silver glitter covered her neck, shoulders, and the tips of her delicately pointed ears.

“Ice Queen,” Ryder said as he bowed his dark head slightly.

“This ice is no work of mine, or of my people. We’ve come as a show of faith; we’ve heard of your fight Horde King, but it is not our fight,” she said softly.

“Not your fight?” I growled. “It’s everyone’s fight! If we don’t all pull our heads out of our asses, there will be no world.”

“We have been told for centuries that we are a lesser Caste, and see no reason to interfere. For a very long time we have been unwanted and no one was willing to help us in our time of need,” she said, turning her eyes to me. “You are not Fae,” she whispered breathlessly. “You are more, so much more.”

“It doesn’t matter what I am. I’m willing to fight and kick Mage ass to save this world and my babies! If you choose to stick your head in the snow,” I was
so
using that pun, “so be it, but hear this now, anyone who helps us will—”

“Synthia,” Ryder warned.

“Stuff it Fairy,” I growled. “I won’t allow this world to merge into mine…The Human world; and I will not allow this world to reject my children. They need to know you’re not your father, and they need to pull their heads out of their asses. This isn’t a fight they can ignore; this is one that decides their fates too.”

“They are lesser beings,” Ryder said smoothly, as if it explained it all.

“That’s bullshit,” I argued. “Every single Caste of Fae. Every Caste of so-called lesser beings, they all count! This is their fight as well,” I explained as I turned to the Winter Queen and those of her court who had joined her here. “Even if they don’t want this fight, it will come down to every single being to help us win. We didn’t ask for it either, but the Mages will soon attack the lesser beings, because that’s how they work.”

“What can we possibly do to help?” she asked, and squared her shoulders.

“More than you think,” I said. She was beautiful, but I was also willing to bet she was strong in mind and soul. I could see her aura, and it was as bright as those who stood beside her.

“I have a council, which I will need to confer with. I’m willing to try to help, but not at the expense of my people. They depend on me to keep them alive.”

“Then do so,” I said to the Queen. “Just remember that Ryder isn’t like his father, who I understand was a bigot as well as a psychotic piece of shit. Ryder’s a good King who will fight for you. He’s the kind of King who will protect you and his own people. Remind your council that the sins of the fathers aren’t that of the sons. You will be pulled into this fight either way. In the end, all that matters is that we win, and that Faery itself survives this war so we can repair the damage that has been wrought by those who seek to harm her.”

“I will remind them, and I will tell them of his brave mistress who fights at his side. Your reputation precedes you, Blood Princess; thank you. Thank you for considering even us lesser beings as worthy of standing at your side in such a precarious situation,” she said before she kneeled before Ryder and me, her people following her lead.

I moved forward and offered her my hand, which she hesitated before finally accepting it. “Yes?” she asked with a tremble in her tone, as if she suspected treachery.

“There is no reason for you to bow at our feet. You are a Queen, and we don’t expect you to bow; your people, either. In this time of need, we are all equals, we all stand together, and that, to me, means more than I can possibly say. Please, stand with us, and not beneath us.”

She smiled and I bowed my head to her which caused those around her to gasp in surprise. “I make no promises, but I hope that after this war is over that we can unite the entire world of Faery so that something like this can never be brought here again. It is my hope that if we stand tall together, we can withstand the next evil before it even reaches Faery,” I explained, which turned her smile into a frown of worry.

“You don’t think this is the last time we will need to stand together in a fight?”

“I have no doubt that, once we cut off the head of one monster, another will rise to take its place,” I said knowing in my heart that, with the number of enemies that Ryder’s father had made, and with the nature of the Fae, we would always have something or someone trying to fight against us.

“I will go now, and I will speak of your kindness, and that your heart is pure. I know you’ve read my aura, but know that I too can see yours and know the truth of your words. I’d also like to bring gifts for your young ones, if I may?” she asked and glanced curiously to where the guard was in the care of the fire fairies, who seemed to be making head way on thawing him out—sorta.

“We would love that,” I said, and felt Ryder as he slipped his fingers through mine and entwined his fingers with mine.

“My Princess speaks the truth, and she’s wise beyond her years. We would indeed be in your debt for your help, and would welcome a gift from you and your people for our triplets.”