WingsOfDesire-AriannaSkye (29 page)

“It’s okay, Viviane. I’m a very forgiving person.” Rhiannon rose from the bed. “It’s getting late, and I need to prepare for a battle.” She shook her head in disbelief. She would’ve never guessed a little over two weeks ago she’d end up in such a magical place, ready to defend its people. She would’ve laughed her ass off, all the while driving herself to the psych ward.

Viviane stood to join her. “Let me see you out, Your Highness.”

“That would be nice. Thank you, Viv.” She smiled. “Is it okay to call you Viv?”

“Of course! You can call me anything you want. You’re the princess after all.” Smiling, she turned to face Rhiannon. All of a sudden, Viviane gasped and her eyes flickered.

“What’s wrong?” Rhiannon asked, her heartbeat accelerating.

Viviane rubbed her hand on her chin and shook her head. “Be wary, Your Highness. Even those you trust can be the most treacherous.”

“Do you remember anything of your attack?” Rhiannon prodded, taking Viviane’s hand in hers.

Viviane shook her head. “I only know it was someone I knew and trusted not to harm me.”

“Could it be one of the lesser courtesans?”

Viviane chuckled. “I don’t trust any of the courtesans to scrub my back. I know they wouldn’t kill me, but they would resort to other forms of trickery to gain my position.”

“Then what’s not to say it’s one of them?”

Viviane chuckled. “Good assumption, Your Highness, but they realize I’m not privy to their games. They respect me because of it.”

“Just like a queen.” Rhiannon grinned.

“No, not a queen, but a very smart woman, such as yourself.” Viviane stared her straight in the face with a stern expression. “Be careful who you trust. Evil lurks here, I can feel it.” She offered Rhiannon her hand. “Shall we go look for a guard to escort you to your chambers.” Nodding, Rhiannon hooked her elbow with Viviane’s. She too sensed something unsettling in the air. It hung like the salty Atlantic air in New York Harbor. Tiny prickles traveled up her spine as they entered the main chamber.

The fading flickers of the candles cast an eerie glow across the room. Rhiannon bit her lip as a sudden wave of trepidation filled her. “Do you feel that?” Viviane glanced around. “It’s rather dark in here. I’ll turn up the lights. Viviane clapped her hands, but not a flicker perked up. “What the deities?” She raked a hand through her brown hair.

Rhiannon glanced around the room. “What’s the matter?” Her heart thumped a wild beat.

“Can you try?” Viviane asked, scanning the room. “The room is blocked.”

“Blocked? The room?” Perplexed and bemused, Rhiannon raised an eyebrow. “But we have guards everywhere.”

“Someone has blocked my magic.” Viviane gripped Rhiannon’s shoulders. “Your magic is

stronger than mine, Your Highness. See if you can overpower them.” Viviane whipped around, her breath ragged.

“If the castle is guarded, how can they get in?”

Viviane’s eyes sparked. “When evil is already in the palace, the guards are pointless.” She reached for Rhiannon’s hand. “Please, Rhiannon. You must believe me.” Rhiannon nodded. She could sense the honesty and urgency in Viviane’s voice. She traced her fingers across the stones hanging at her chest. “It shouldn’t be that hard. After all, I was able to heal my mother.”

She closed her eyes and the stone grew warm in her hand. Concentrating on the candles, she called forth her energy and visualized the room bathed in warm light. The stone glowed warm against her chest.

Viviane’s gasp reverberated through the chamber then she sighed. “What are you doing in here? You almost scared the wings off my—”

A loud crack filled the room, followed by a soft thud. Rhiannon opened her eyes to spot Viviane’s limp body slumped against the chaise.

“Viviane?” Rhiannon called, running toward her. She’d already been through enough tonight.

“Not so fast, Your Highness.” With that, a giant vase came crashing down on Rhiannon’s head.

Rhiannon blinked back the stars forming in her eyes, trying to make out the form of her assailant. A heavy fog flooded her senses as faerie dust settled on her skin. “Why?” she managed with a weak breath, and then the darkness of unconsciousness settled around her.

Rhiannon’s head pounded. She went to rub the spot where she’d been hit, but her hands would not budge. The clanging of metal grated in her ears. Shaking her head, she opened her eyes.
What the hell?

Darkness surrounded her like the plague, stifling her. The faint nubs of the sconces down the hall cast dismal shadows. The cold metallic shackles bit into her wrists and ankles. She looked down to her neck. The amulet was gone. Her blood ran cold. She’d already failed her kingdom.

Where in Fey was she? Maybe her mind had played tricks on her when she’d lost consciousness. She had to get hold of Cerne. Would he hear her? She closed her eyes, forcing them shut.
Please Cerne, are you there?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Emptiness, the feeling of utter loneliness, was all that came back. The click of heels scratching against stone broke her concentration.

“It’s no use trying, my dear princess. He cannot hear you. Nor does he want to.” The woman stepped forward, a wicked smirk swept across her face. Her long black hair twisted and curled about a mass of gnarled thorns and branches. She wore a pair of thigh-high black leather—at least Rhiannon assumed it was leather—boots. She held a whip in her hand, stroking it as if it were a large dildo. Wonderful. I’ve been kidnapped by a fetish-loving faerie, she thought, examining the black lace-up corset and hose. A pair of large black wings spread out proudly behind the woman.

“Who are you? The Queen of Kink?” Rhiannon managed to raise her chin and keep her face straight. She knew she had to be strong if she planned on getting out of here alive.

“Very funny, Rhiannon.” The woman’s ruby lips pursed while she scratched her chin. “You don’t mind me calling you that do you?”

“Like I have a choice.” Rhiannon looked the woman over. “Korrigan, I presume?” The woman approached, flicking her whip in her hand. “You presume correctly.”

“If you wanted someone to play kinky sex games with you, you should’ve just asked.”

“You’re not my type, but your consort-to-be, Cerne—hmm—he’d definitely be my type.” She leaned in close, tracing her whip along Rhiannon’s neck and down her breasts.

Revulsion welled within Rhiannon as she thought of this disgusting bitch laying her hands on Cerne. “He would rather be with a pig than the likes of you.”

“I beg to differ. After all, his brother found me most satisfying.” A wicked glint filled Korrigan’s eyes and a sinister curl shaped her lips.

If Rhiannon wasn’t shackled to the wall, she’d rip that whip from her hands and wrap it around her neck. “Where is Sionnach?”

“Somewhere pleasure slaves go when they disobey me one too many times.” Korrigan’s eyes flickered. “Somewhere very far away.”

Rhiannon’s stomach roiled and bile rose. She felt saliva trickle from her tongue. What better way to get rid of the excess moisture in her mouth? She sucked in a breath and sent a wad of spit flying, hitting Korrigan right in the eye.

“You little bitch,” Korrigan snapped. She extended her arm, her palm connecting with Rhiannon’s cheek.

The force of the blow sent Rhiannon reeling, and fire stung her cheek. She bit back her cry of pain and wrenched her face around. “My human parents taught me to turn the other cheek.”

“Stupid humans,” Korrigan hissed, her black eyes swirling like bottomless pits. “Not fit to walk the otherworld, or Earth either.”

“Take a look at yourself, lady.” Rhiannon flashed Korrigan a bold glare. “I don’t see
you
getting nominated for any faerie-of-the-year awards.”

“Defiant little bitch, aren’t you?” Korrigan leered. “Let’s see how defiant you are without this.” She reached into her corset and pulled out the amulet. With a maniacal laugh, she dangled the chain in front of Rhiannon’s nose.

Rhiannon fought against her binds, trying to reach for the amulet. “You won’t get away with this. They will come for me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,
Princess.
” A smug smile etched Korrigan’s face. “Right now as we speak, your precious Cerne loathes and despises you.”

“You’re lying!” Rhiannon spat. Then again, what this wretched witch said could be true. He was less than pleased with her decision to return to Earth. Would she ever see him again to tell him she’d changed her mind? Would he think she’d abandoned him and their people?

“Oh, yes,” Korrigan continued, “I’m telling you the truth. Right now, as I speak, your
loving
consort discovers you and Viviane missing. Thanks to one of your
loyal
subjects.”

“Who?”

Korrigan wagged her finger. “Ah, ah, ah. That’s for me to know and you to die trying to find out.” Korrigan smirked some more. “It was a challenge locating a black heart within the palace.

What appears innocent on the surface isn’t always innocent inside. I had originally planned on using that slut, Viviane, but she ended up having a heart after all. More’s the pity. I would’ve enjoyed watching her seduce your consort. Did you enjoy the show?”

“Right, and I’m supposed to believe you?” Rhiannon threw back her head and chuckled. “A woman who still hasn’t discovered that leather pantsuits went out of style a couple of decades ago?”

“Shut up!” Korrigan shrieked, her voice echoing through the hall and reverberating in Rhiannon’s ear. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.”

“Why don’t you just kill me now and get it over with?” Korrigan tsked. “And miss the satisfaction of seeing Queen Titania’s face when she discovers her beloved daughter has betrayed them? I think not.”

“Man, lady. What the heck are you smoking? I’d never betray my people, and my mother believes in me.”

Korrigan leaned in, breathing a hot gust of air against Rhiannon’s cheek. Her obsidian eyes flickered with anger. “Oh, but you will.” She cackled like the deranged witch that she was.

“Believe me, you will.”

~*~*~

“She should’ve returned by now.” Cerne paced the hall in front of Rhiannon’s chamber. He raked his fingers through his tousled hair. He’d tried mind-talking, but Rhiannon’s mind was stone-fortress closed. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it like the coming storm.

Belenus scratched the stubble that had formed on his chin. “Perhaps she went to visit with Maeve?”

“Perhaps.” But it wasn’t customary for the princess to pay social calls this late in the evening. Then again, when was Rhiannon ever customary? It was what drew him to her. She was beautiful, she was smart – she was unique. She was, quite simply, Rhiannon.

“I’ll call Maeve.” Belenus closed his eyes. “Good, she’s left the connection open.” For what

seemed an awful long time, he stood there in stark silence, nodding and shaking his head occasionally. Opening his eyes, Belenus sighed. “Maeve is on her way. She hasn’t seen the princess. ”

“Your Lordship, Councilman Windsong!”

Both men spun around to see Kendra, one of the palace courtesans, rushing toward them, her silk and gossamer gown rustling at her feet.

“What is it, Kendra?” Cerne asked.

Kendra took a deep breath. “It’s Viviane.”

“Catch your breath, Mistress Kendra,” Belenus said, with a calm and comforting voice.

“What about Madam Viviane?”

“I left her and Princess Rhiannon whilst I...serviced one of the guards. They seemed to be getting along well.”

Cerne nodded. That was good news. It was a relief to have both women seeing eye to eye.

But something told him what Kendra was going to tell next him wasn’t good news. “Go on, please.”

Kendra nodded, gnawing her lower lip. “So, I came back from my appointment, to find the chamber empty. As I was searching the room, I found this.” She handed Cerne a folded piece of parchment. “I hope you don’t mind my reading it earlier. I didn’t know what to do with it.” Cerne nodded. “It’s fine, Kendra.” His stomach lurching, he unfolded the note.

To all you weak, White Faeries who feel you can defeat me. How hard will it be to do that
when both your precious princess and the Mother Amulet are now in my possession? How, you
ask? Darkness exists everywhere, in every corner, even in your beautiful White Palace. You can
try and mask it, but it always shines through. Do not even bother attempting to mind-talk with
her. I have secured the area surrounding her. Not even a dream could peek through. If you fight
me, your princess will die. If you retreat, perhaps I shall let her live after she’s served her
purpose.

“Bloody deities!” Cerne growled, crumpling the note in his hand. He threw the wad of paper against the wall and saw it bounce in front of Belenus’s feet. “Korrigan has her.”

“What?” Belenus scooped the wad off the floor and straightened the paper out. Reading the note, Belenus’s eyes widened. “Dear Gods, let’s go!” Belenus stuffed the note back in Cerne’s hand, closed his eyes and snapped his fingers.

After the fog cleared they were in Maeve’s chamber.

“Bel?” Maeve asked, aiming her light staff at them. She looked up, taking in their somber expression. “What is it?”

Cerne stepped forward, gripping the note. “Korrigan has Rhiannon.”

“How?”

Cerne shrugged and handed the note. “She won’t say.” Maeve read through the note, shaking her head. “Have you tried mind-talking?” Cerne nodded, his jaw ticking. “I did. I received nothing back.”

“What of Viviane?”

“One of her women, Kendra, I believe, found her unconscious in the main courtesan chamber.”

“Should I notify the other elders?” Belenus asked, raking a blond strand of hair from his forehead.

Maeve sighed and shook her head. “I’m not sure that would be wise.”

“What would you have us do?” Cerne asked.

Maeve paced in front of her fireplace. “We’ll need to notify both Chancellor Evenspring as well as General Windstorm. The fewer that know, the better. If there is a traitor in our midst, we can’t be blabbering to everyone.”

“We have to get her out of there.” Cerne raised his jaw and crossed his arms. “We need her.”