A Kingdom of Flame and Fury (The Four Kingdoms Book 1) Page 3

  All inhibitions were lost as he grabbed my hand with his, which was big enough to wrap around mine completely. His skin was callused and I wanted it all over me.

  He tugged at me and I obliged, letting him pull me in to walk behind him. Tall. He was so tall that I had to tilt my chin up to look at him as he guided us away from the crowd, weaving us through the booths and behind a row of brown-stone shops.

  Everyone was so drunk that I doubted any of them would have noticed if we were to go at it in the middle of the festival, but being alone with him lit my body up, my stomach tightening at the thought of his body on mine.

  We tucked into a corner behind the modest buildings, the light from the bonfires seeming far away. Since we were both in black, we became invisible in the shadows. He took advantage and dropped my hand, moving his hands to my shoulders and pushed me against the wall. I responded quickly and pulled at the fabric of his shirt, leaning up on my toes to crash my mouth against his.

  His tongue shoved into my mouth, entwining with mine. I moaned softly into his mouth. He tasted so good, like rum, and I wanted to drink from him. He smelled like pine — all man and rugged — and I suddenly wanted to invent a pine-flavored rum and live off of it for the rest of time.

  He wrapped his hands around my waist and his thumbs pushed the fabric of my shirt up enough to expose my belly button. Keeping one hand on my waist, the fingertips of his other hand grazed across my stomach. I drew in a sharp breath through my nose, the sensation from just his fingertips putting me in a daze.

  I pulled my mouth from his, remaining close enough for the tips of our noses to touch. Both of our chests heaved and I could feel his heartbeat against mine, thundering in the same rhythm — like it was one heart shared between two and all we’d done is kiss.

  "Who are you?” I managed to get out, though I wasn’t sure what I was asking. I put my hands on his muscular arms to try and get a better look at his face, but all I could see was the outline of delicious jaw that I was sure could cut right through me and I’d beg him to do it again.

  He didn’t answer me at first, pushing his hips against mine and pinning me to the wall. I felt how hard he was for me against my stomach. My core begged me to relent, but I wanted more of him. I wanted to hear his voice.

  He removed his hands from my waist and placed them either side of my head, his palms resting against the wall to cage me in. “Zeke.”

  It sounded like a low snarl and it melted across my skin like warm chocolate. I waited for more, but it never came. I couldn’t offer him my name and I had never needed to. I had never cared about any of the randoms I fucked here every year enough to ask for their name or to think of a fake one for myself.

  But this man. This man. He was the devil, I just knew it.

  “Zeke,” I repeated slowly, enjoying how his name tasted on my tongue. I felt him pulse against my skin as I said his name. He was feeling everything I was. My hands left his arms to squeeze between our chests, resting my palms against his hard stomach. “I’ll see you in my dreams, Zeke.”

  I bent and slid out from underneath his cage and sauntered slowly back into the crowd, swaying my hips, and felt his eyes on my back the entire time.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Raven

  ☽✧

  When I made it back inside the dark barn, I fell to my knees. I hadn't breathed since I left him standing there. Hard to get was never a game I played, but something about him made me not want to leave, which meant he wouldn’t be someone I could have fucked for release. As hard as walking away from him was and despite the sensation I still felt from his body pressed against mine, the way his voice sounded, how desperately he seemed to want me… fuck, I had to stop. I couldn’t risk getting attached to anyone and wondering where he came from or if he’d be back.

  But damn, that man seemed almost too good to be true and I wondered if I dreamt him up in my drunken stupor.

  I rose to my feet and cursed under my breath. My hand would have to be the only pleasure I found. Again. I sighed to myself.

  To be completely unfair, if I couldn't have physical pleasure from someone else, neither could Cade — which was why when I made my way back through the hidden corridors, I didn’t linger in my chambers long and found myself banging on his door.

  My fitted leathers were still on, but I shifted back into myself, my violet hair and golden eyes retired for the night. I shouldn’t have been in my festival clothes, but I was willing to do anything to avoid a heavy dress. I arched my back just thinking about the weight of them on me. I was going to send for some new ones as soon as possible. I was too young for the aches I felt in my back from trying to remain upright in them for hours at a time, even as beautiful as they were.

  While waiting for him to come to the door, I braided my long hair and let it hang down my back, resting my hands on my hips as I lingered impatiently. After a moment longer, he finally deigned to answer my knocking and crossed his arms over his bare chest.

  I shoved at his crossed arms and pushed him backward into his entryway. “You move fast. Tell her to leave,” I demanded, nodding toward his bedroom.

  “Whom?” He countered, smugly grinning at me.

  My earlier thoughts of murdering him returned. My irritation for tall men tonight was high and I shoved at him again. “You fucking know who. I need to talk to you.”

  He shook his head and sighed, disappearing back into his room. I meandered into his office and sat on top of his desk - waiting, again. A ghost of envy tickled my shoulders and I shook it off as the blonde from the festival scurried out of his bedroom, her hair mussed. My eyes rolled.

  I called out to the young woman and she jumped, turning her attention to look across the hall into his office where I was perched. She curtsied to me, looking quite frantic to be caught in my royal adviser’s bedroom. I didn’t want her to feel embarrassed, so I hopped off the desk and walked to where she remained in a curtsy. “You’re very beautiful,” I said, lifting her chin with my finger to meet my eyes.

  And she was. Her skin was delicate, pale. Her eyes were a light blue, like a Blue Star flower. She was taller than me, and there was strength in her small frame. Though it was soft, there was an intensity about the way she stared at me. Like she knew me somehow.

  I brushed it off. “You can do much better than our dear Cade here. Raise your standards.”

  I heard him chuckle behind me as I patted her elbow and ushered her toward the door, closing it once she was down the hallway. I turned to Cade as I flipped my braid, moving it to fall down my chest. “Why are they always blonde? Have a thing against brunettes?”

  He ignored my question and I followed him into his lounge, watching as he sat in a chair next to one of his grand windows that overlooked our village. He spread his legs out as he leaned back in the chair, perching his forearm across the back of it. “What do you want, Raven?”

  “That’s no way to speak to your queen.” My eyes roamed over his body as he sat there. He was attractive and my girlish crush didn’t seem too embarrassing when I took the time to actually look at him. His chest and arms were well defined with muscles, but it was his stomach that made warmth spread across my cheeks.

  His abs were tight and it looked like he had practiced sit-ups every day of his life. His father was an army general many years ago, so his physique was thanks to years of training with him. I’d seen him shirtless many times, mostly when we’d sneak off to the water’s edge along the docks and swim. But tonight, I was wound up tight and he had suddenly become a man.

  “You should be on your knees,” I muttered, my eyes still thirsting across his stomach.

  When my gaze lifted back to his, his eyebrow was cocked in curiosity as to why I was here and why I was staring. I cleared my throat and diverted my attention away from his body. I needed to stop drinking so much. “Do you remember when we used to sneak off and go swim by the docks?” I asked, walking to the window adjacent to where he sat and stared down at the village I left moments p
rior, still brimming with life. I wondered if Zeke was still there. If he found someone else.

  From the corner of my eye, Cade nodded as he kept his gaze on me.

  “I felt so safe. Like nothing would ever touch us.”

  A soft sigh from him.

  “You’re not telling me something.” I touched my forehead against the window and watched my breath coat the cold glass.

  His fingers wrapped around mine. “Raven, I can still take you swimming and keep you safe. I’ll always keep you safe.” His reply was a soft murmur.

  I rolled my head against the glass just enough to look at him. The air between us felt heavy. My fingers left his grasp to rest my palm against his cheek. He leaned into it and I brushed my thumb against his skin. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Another sigh, more frustrated than before. He leaned forward, my hand dropping from his cheek as I watched his entire body tense. I gave him a moment to collect himself before he stood up from his chair and pulled me into his arms, wrapping me into a tight hug. My arms curled around his waist as his lips pressed against my hair.

  Whispering against my hair, he finally spoke, “About a week ago, there was a note hammered to the front gate of the castle.” He released me and left his lounge to walk into his office.

  His long strides had me practically skipping as I fought to catch up. When I entered the office, he was already as his desk, pulling open a drawer. He brandished a note, flicking it a couple times with his wrist like touching it burned his skin.

  I walked to his desk and ripped it from his hand, my eyebrows drawing together at the message written down in big, black letters. I read the message aloud, ignorance clouding my eyes. “The orphan doesn’t belong here.”

  Tears stung my eyes as the realization dawned on me. “Me. I don’t belong here.” I dropped the note back to his desk. Even after twenty-five years, being referred to as the orphan stung, pulling at something deep inside of me. At the end of the day, I was still abandoned. I didn't belong anywhere, not truly. It was a harsh reminder to see it written down.

  He grabbed me, pulling me into his arms again. “Listen to me, darling.” His drawl was so soothing. “We’re going to find out who did this. We have guards stationed at every gate entrance day and night, watching for anyone suspicious.” He untied his arms from around my body and placed his hands on my shoulders, pulling me back to where he could see my face and shook me until I lifted my chin to meet his eyes. “You are our queen, Raven. This is your home.”

  But was it? All I could do was nod in response, the lump that formed in my throat preventing me from speaking. I lifted up on my toes and pecked his cheek. He seemed reluctant to release me. I blew a bubble in my mouth and rubbed at my eyes with the palms of my hands. “I need to sleep. We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.”

  I turned to walk to the door, but he was hot on my heels, putting his hand against it before I could open it to to leave. “Stay with me. We’ll drink. Talk.” There was concern in his voice again. “Swimming? I’ll even let you drag me into the forest.”

  “Swimming? In winter?” I gave him a reassuring nod and patted his arm. “I really just want to sleep.”

  He didn’t move, pushing out his bottom lip. “Stay with me, Raven. We’ll sleep on the balcony.” He was being persistent. His fingers circled my wrist and he started to swing it, tugging at my arm until I finally nodded. Staying with him would be better than the mental anguish I would put myself through on my own.

  “Fine, you heathen.”

  He smiled as he pulled me into his bedroom, grabbing the pillows and blankets off his bed and threw them onto the terrace.

  “Give me a shirt,” I demanded.

  He walked to his wardrobe and pulled open a drawer, tossing a shirt at me, laughing as it smacked me in the face.

  “You’re such a jackass.” I giggled, grabbing the hem of my shirt and pulling it over my head until I was in just a bralette and my pants.

  He looked down at the floor and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand as I pulled his shirt over my head.

  “Am I that bad?”

  He snorted, making me roll my eyes as I padded out onto the terrace. “Do you have any more of that confetti?”

  He disappeared back into the lounge and I laid down on the ground, shimmying out of my pants and threw them behind my head. I rested my head against his pillow and pulled the blanket over me, staring at the stars above us. I hadn’t felt like an orphan in over two decades. My aunt and Cade wrapped me up in so much love and adoration that I stopped seeing the black clouds hanging over my head.

  Isla took me in, treated me like her own daughter, taught me to read and how to properly socialize with other kids, giving me a chance to be part of something, part of a family. Cade took me under his wing and taught me to be a ruler. He was patient with me, always protecting me against any doubt that rose against me in the formative years of being the new queen.

  I had formed my own family, and as the years passed, the pain of being abandoned in a basket was buried deep inside me and the pain subsided.

  I coughed as the sobs hit me all at once, curling my knees to my chest under the blanket. I felt small — smaller than I had in a long time. Even with so much magic in my veins, words written by a stranger could bring me to my knees.

  Cade heard my sobs and rushed to me, shushing me as he sat beside me. “Raven…” he murmured, rubbing the back of my head. “Darling, it’s okay. We’re going to figure this out.” After sliding under the blanket, he tugged me to him and pressed his cheek against my temple.

  Tears continued to fall down my cheeks, but my sobs quieted. It was only the silence surrounding us and how could silence be so loud?

  He extended his palm out in front of me and wiggled his fingers. I sniffled and reached for it, pinching the confetti between my fingers. Lifting my arm behind our heads, I sprinkled the pieces on to our pillows. I felt him smile against my skin, and I sniffled again, squeezing my eyes shut.

  “Sometimes I wish I could erase it - my history. Everything. Sometimes, I don’t want to be me. I tire of having so many questions every single day, so much doubt about who I am and if I should be here.”

  He shifted behind me and put his hand gently on my shoulder, pushing me down to my back. “Look at me, Raven.”

  I opened one eye and he chuckled, waiting until I opened both before speaking, “I never once doubted you and your love for this kingdom. I never want to hear you say again that you wish to erase our history.” The tip of his nose touched mine. “I don’t want to imagine a life without you. You were meant to be here, Raven. You will realize that one day.”

  He pulled one of my candies from behind his back and pushed it against my lips until I giggled through my sniffles and took a bite of the oozy caramel treat. He popped the rest of it in his mouth. “Now sleep, darling. I have you.” He pulled at my waist until I was on my side again. His arm enveloped me from behind and tugged me closer to him.

  Tomorrow, we’d talk about who could’ve left the horrid note. He’d gather the rest of the advisers and we’d go over every detail. Tomorrow, I’d be the queen. But tonight, I was just the orphan who was given a palace — a palace I hadn’t earned in a castle that didn’t feel like mine.

  And I was going to let myself feel it.

  Much to my disappointment, I didn’t dream.

  ☽༓☾

  The sun was high before I woke up. Rays of sunlight pooled across my body, warming my skin and seemingly trying to comfort me from the night before. I slowly sat up and stretched my arms above my head.

  My head was pounding from a massive hangover, but there was work to be done and feeling sorry for myself wouldn’t accomplish anything. I looked to my left and Cade was still peacefully sleeping next to me. I smiled as I gently moved a piece of his hair that had fallen over his eyes to behind his ear.

  I needed to bathe. Get ready for the long day ahead. I rolled my neck side to side and crawled silently out from und
erneath the blanket, careful not to disturb him. I picked up my discarded clothes and tiptoed out of his room, clicking the door behind me before I padded down the hallway. I felt like I was performing the walk of shame, leaving a man’s room in his shirt — but my servants had seen me do it many times. Sleepovers happened at least twice a week and we almost always woke up with hangovers.

  I entered my chambers and walked to the bathroom, turning the water on in my bathtub. Taking a deep inhale of the steam rising from the hot water, I stepped in, drawing in a sharp breath as the scolding water cradled my body and sank down until I could relax against the cool marble.

  A good scrubbing of last night’s activities would feel like a fresh start and bring my confidence to the forefront. I didn’t enjoy feeling feeble and without trying most of the time, I intimidated those who didn’t know me well. Despite the love that surrounded me during my upbringing, trust was not something I typically gave freely.

  That was why when it came to matters of the kingdom, I listened to my court, but then would have private meetings with Cade to go over every option before making a decision. It was the only way I had ruled my entire reign and everyone in our kingdom, and the ones surrounding, knew that without Cade by my side, expecting a decision from me would not happen quickly.

  I was still a young queen and valued Cade’s experience. Cade was only eighteen when I became queen, but ever since he was a child, he was taught the ways of the kingdom by his mother and father. He learned how to fight, intimidate, and exude self-control in any situation from his father, and learned about negotiating from his mother, who had served as a royal secretary to the former king. He grew up in the palace and around the very people who still served on my court.

  His parents retired early into my reign and still lived in the village, but spent most of their days in their garden, living a happy retired life. There were nights that we’d spend hours at his parents’ cottage, asking opinions and listening to stories from the early days of King Leonidas’s reign.