The Shadow Princess, page 20
“Fine!” I groan, lifting my head to glare at him. “I’m not marrying Baynor. Are you happy?”
And perhaps what will actually be the most monumental thing tonight, the thing I’ll take with me, that I’ll turn to for hope time and again… Bastien smiles at me.
Genuine, warm, relieved. “Yes. That makes me very happy, and I’m getting ready to make you very happy you told me that.”
Done with this torturous teasing, he dips his head, latches his mouth onto me, and brings me to the fastest orgasm I’ve ever had.
I scream. There’s no helping it. Delirious with pleasure and my heart pulsing with hope, I barely even register Bastien coming back up my body. He spreads my legs, pushes the front of his pants down to free himself, and with one punch of his hips, enters me.
Fills me up so completely that tears spring forth. It’s so beautiful.
Bastien doesn’t hold back, pumping in long, luxurious strokes. He kisses me the entire time, elbows dug into the mattress and his hands on my face to hold me still.
It’s everything I remember. It’s like it always was, and yet, it’s different too. Because no matter how much things have changed tonight, there is one thing missing… love.
At least on his part.
I’m sure it’s still missing, but I push the thought away.
It can be recreated. I know it.
With every stroke, Bastien drives me higher and higher until a second orgasm builds. I can’t even hold it back. Don’t want to, really, because surely there will be more later. Tonight. Tomorrow?
Bastien’s hand slips behind my neck, and he pulls me up slightly. Lifting his mouth from mine, he stares down at me, hips still thrusting. “Give it up to me again, Thalia.”
Words.
Words alone command my body, and the orgasm rips through me so fiercely, Bastien feels it. I know he feels it because his entire body jerks. He plants deep, drops his forehead to mine, and growls out his release.
Our breaths are harsh, mixed, and I’m boneless.
I’m also madly in love with him. That’s never changed for me.
Bastien presses his lips to mine briefly before rolling off my body. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he glances back at me and frowns. “So, what did you have to give Sorin to get his troops?”
So much for cuddling after. I sigh with the knowledge that this might have changed some things, but not all things. I roll onto my side and prop my head in my hand. “It was easy to figure out he doesn’t want me.”
“Oh, he wants you,” Bastien growls.
“He wants Kestevayne,” I say firmly. “I am just the means to get it. Anyway, it appears Croyden is not doing well financially, so he hoped to expand his holdings to infuse money into his city.”
“You bought his troops?”
“Basically. I told him I would deed him lifetime rights to the largest salt mine in Kestevayne. Contingent, of course, on us winning Kestevayne back.”
“A diplomat,” Bastien proclaims, and I hear the tinge of pride in his voice. It gives me no warm fuzzies, for he stands and buttons up his pants. He bends and grabs his shirt from the floor and then moves to the chair to grab his boots. “I’m going back to Conclave Hall since I now have a much larger army to manage. If you want to visit Archer, the guards will accompany you.”
He turns for the door but stops when I ask, “And what was this?” My tone is soft but accusing. “Was this just to soothe your pride? You wanted to prove I wanted you and not Baynor?”
“I already knew you wanted me and not Baynor,” he replies. “I didn’t need to make you come twice to know that. But make no mistake, I would’ve never let you marry him just to get his troops. You’re far better than he deserves.”
I don’t know how to take that.
“What about what I deserve?” I ask curiously.
Something flickers over Bastien’s face, a pure emotion I’d label as regret.
“You deserve to be happy, Thalia. For everything that was done to you, for what you suffered and continue to suffer. That’s all I want for you.”
It’s what I want too.
Bastien would make me happy if he’d open his heart, but he’s clearly not ready to do that yet.
“I want to leave to see Hephastus,” I say, rolling off the bed and grabbing my ripped dress and panties. I don’t hold them in front of me. I make no attempt to hide my body and take heart that Bastien watches me like a hawk. “I’d like to go today.”
Bastien nods. “I can make that happen. Give me two hours.”
“I’ll be ready in two hours, then,” I say and head for the bathroom to shower.
I feel his eyes burning into my backside the entire time, and I don’t mind it.
CHAPTER 22
Bastien
Bastien and Thalia got as close to the Rosethorn Valley as they could by bending distance with nothing but their horses and saddlebags carrying basic provisions. They emerged halfway down a butte that led to the flat landscape inside the horseshoe-shaped mountain range.
So named for the scrubby rose bushes that thrived along the western-facing slopes, they approached Rosethorn Valley from the south and didn’t have to battle cutting back any foliage to make the descent. It took no more than half an hour to reach the valley floor to head toward the town of Avery. Thalia only knew that her uncle lived near that town, and they were hoping to find information about him there.
It made no sense to disguise themselves as poor travelers as they would never have possession of such fine horseflesh. As such, they stayed off the main roads. Bastien led, keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings.
He didn’t like coming alone, but it wasn’t feasible to bring a contingent of soldiers. A group that large couldn’t travel without notice, and Bastien hoped for a quick in-and-out of the Rosethorn Valley.
Kieran was left behind to coordinate the gathering of all the troops from the pledged families. It would take upward of ten days for the ground troops to march to a rendezvous point that had yet to be decided but was being debated by military higher-ups.
When Bastien returned to Conclave Hall after bedding Thalia, he had a moment of guilt that he had perhaps undermined her in front of the royals and Conclave members by dragging her out of there. It was somewhat embarrassing that most probably concluded he was acting on jealousy, but when he returned to the hall to iron out details with his brother, Bastien had found Baynor Sorin quite happy with his salt mine rights and not the least bit upset he’d lost Thalia.
What an utter idiot, Bastien thought, because she was a prize beyond all measure.
Navigating through forests to avoid the roads and populated areas took extra time. They rode along silently, Bastien lost in thought about how eventful the day had been so far—a gathering of pledged royals to discuss battle strategy, a marriage proposal for Thalia, and Sorin’s near death at his hands. Bastien mused that was the least important stuff plaguing him.
It was what happened after—when he more or less kidnapped Thalia from Conclave Hall and forced himself upon her—that bothered him the most.
He knew better.
Should’ve had more control.
Bastien felt like an animal, his need for her was so great. Although he denied it, he absolutely hauled her out of Conclave Hall driven by pure jealousy and fury with the sole intent of proving to her that she didn’t want Sorin.
Instead, he only proved to himself he couldn’t brush her aside anymore. His heart might have been sucked dry of his feelings for her seven years ago, but something was going on inside him now.
Bastien hated his weakness where she was concerned, but damn if he could truly regret it when that was the most alive he’d felt in, well… seven years.
How Thalia viewed the whole thing was anyone’s guess. He’d never ask, afraid it had meant more to her than to him, and he didn’t have it in him to hurt her.
So they continued to ride silently.
Around mid-afternoon, they emerged into a sunny glade with a stream running through it and took a short break to let the horses rest and drink. Bastien rummaged through the saddlebag for fruit while Thalia stretched with a groan.
“I’m not used to being in the saddle for hours at a time like that,” she said.
“Despite living on a horse ranch?” he asked.
“Nothing about a horse ranch requires hours of continuous riding,” she replied and caught an apple he tossed to her. She looked around, perhaps noting they were well away from any road but in an open area. “I’ll cast a quick cloaking spell. Wouldn’t want anyone seeing us.”
And just those few words, the sunny meadow and warm sun had him tumbling back through memories he’d long forgotten.
It had been almost three months since Thalia’s eighteenth birthday, and although Bastien was busy as a captain in the royal army, he still found plenty of time to spend with her. Often Thalia’s parents invited Bastien to dine with them, and he was a regular visitor to their private apartments.
Both adventurers and lovers of the outdoors, they often took rides together where they could have privacy, away from the prying eyes of the palace. Bastien unfortunately had a foreign tour in another region of Vyronas coming up, and he’d be gone for several months. It was his hope that upon his return he and Thalia would marry.
He still had to ask her, though. He was just waiting for that perfect moment.
There came a beautiful day when Bastien surprised Thalia with an afternoon picnic. He had their horses saddled and packs stuffed with food and wine, and they headed out to explore palace lands.
They stopped in a grassy meadow dotted with wildflowers with a large pressian tree standing alone in the middle. Bastien spread a blanket and set out food while Thalia tethered their horses.
He watched her sure handling of the animals and the way the sun made her skin shimmer. She smiled at him as she caught him staring. Bastien was going to wait until after they ate and shared a glass of wine, and then he would pull out the ring Queen Selena had helped him create. Not long after Thalia’s birthday party where they’d declared their love for each other, he’d immediately asked her parents for their permission to marry her.
But she was so beautiful and happy, he found that he couldn’t wait any longer. Besides, this felt like the perfect moment.
He moved to his saddle pack, pulled out the small wooden box with a velvet liner, and moved around to the front of Thalia’s horse as she was tying the reins to a low-hanging branch.
It was there that her eyes rounded in surprise as he opened the box and poured forth heartfelt words of devotion and never-ending loyalty if she’d only gift him with a yes to his proposal.
Her response was a soul-searing kiss that rocked his world and had him pulling her body in closer. In the three months since acknowledging their love, Bastien and Thalia had done plenty of kissing.
Which led to fondling.
Lots of fondling, and Bastien doled out orgasms to Thalia with his fingers and his mouth, but he’d never let her give it back to him.
He didn’t want to besmirch her innocence any further, even though she argued against waiting.
But her parents entrusted him with her care, and he decided he could wait until they wed, even if he suffered with a perpetual case of blue balls.
Thalia beamed at Bastien as he slipped the pink diamond ring onto her finger. She kissed him again.
She slipped her tongue into his mouth and somehow pulled him down to the blanket where they made out between whispered words of promise and love. Her hands roamed, bolder than ever before, and when her palm pressed against his erection, he jolted back.
Taking her wrist and pulling her hand away, he chastised gruffly, “That’s not a good idea.”
He was in no way surprised when she growled in frustration and sat up on her knees.
“I can’t stand this anymore, Bastien.”
He gave her a lazy smile. “What can’t you stand?”
“Not being able to touch you… to give you pleasure—”
“Fuck, Thalia,” Bastien growled in irritation. “Stop talking like that.”
“Why?” she exclaimed, holding out her hand so the pink diamond winked at him. “We’re as good as married. I love you. You love me. And you give me pleasure all the time.”
Bastien understood her frustration. He felt it, too, but swept out a hand, hoping to dissuade her with common sense. “You want to make love for the first time out here… in the middle of a meadow where anyone can see us?”
In answer to his question, Thalia rose to her feet with a smirk. She chanted a low humming spell and a shimmery dome formed around them, encompassing the pressian tree they were under. It sparkled with multicolored lights she’d added for effect. It was magnificent to behold.
“A cloaking spell,” she said with a satisfied nod before dropping to her knees before him. “Now… no one can see us.”
It was an incredible piece of magic she’d woven, but it ran strong in her veins. Nothing was more magical than when she grabbed the hem of her flowing dress and started to pull it up her thighs.
Bastien’s mouth went dry as she lifted it off her body, revealing that she wasn’t wearing any undergarments and was gloriously naked.
He was mesmerized, having only envisioned her naked a million times but knowing it could never be as good as seeing it right now. He held nothing back, his gaze roaming over every inch of her, committing it all to memory.
“I want you to make love to me,” Thalia murmured. Bastien’s eyes snapped to hers. “And we aren’t leaving here today until the deed is done.”
“We shouldn’t…” Bastien hedged, but he knew in his heart he wasn’t going to hold out on her.
“We should, and you know it.”
He did know it. Thalia was his in every way, and it didn’t matter if she had a ring on her hand or if they shared a last name.
Under the shimmer of the cloaking spell, he rolled her underneath his body, gave her what she wanted, and he took the same in return.
“Bastien… are you listening to me?”
He blinked at Thalia where she stood beside King. The cloaking spell she’d just cast wasn’t nearly as beautiful as the one she’d spun all those years ago when he’d taken her virginity and sealed their fates.
But back then, she was weaving romance into the protection.
This cloak had no more substance than a faint waver of the air around them, but it still triggered that memory of their first time together.
And it only got better from that first coupling. So many times… secret rendezvous in the palace, Thalia staying overnight in his apartments, which he was sure her parents knew but looked the other way. She was more than of consensual age, and they were betrothed. Bastien had to go away for training, and for six long months they were apart. While Thalia longed for him to just bend distance back to her at night, Bastien took his duties seriously. His training was important because it would be the foundation for his future leadership.
Six months seemed like a brutally long time and when he returned, they were ravenous for each other.
They fell deeper and deeper in love and were planning the wedding of the century. All of Vyronas would celebrate, and their lives would be perfect.
Then Ferelith came, and nothing was right again.
“What’s wrong?” Thalia repeated, moving toward him with concern. “You look… ill.”
Bastien put his fingers to the bridge of his nose and rubbed. “Just a headache,” he muttered, pushing the assault of remembrance away. It hurt him to relive those scenes because they made him feel things that were supposed to have been long dead.
He didn’t like it at all.
* * *
The sun was setting as they approached Avery, a town roughly the size as Clairmont, although it had been established hundreds of years ago and was more settled. While Bastien and Thalia had pretty much stayed out of sight all day, they intended to stop at the town’s inn, owned by Laina Mercea’s brother, Lawrence. They would be safe here and able to get a good night’s sleep before venturing to find Hephastus.
After the horses were stabled, Bastien and Thalia were taken to a room with a bed, a small table that sat four, a wardrobe, and an attached bathroom shared with another room. However, Lawrence said that room was unoccupied and would remain so. Bastien asked for only one room, as he was observing the same safety measures he had in Clairmont… Thalia was not to be out of his line of sight.
Lawrence joined them for a simple meal of stew and bread wherein they discussed the state of affairs in the Rosethorn Valley.
“Ferelith doesn’t have a large presence here since towns are smaller and spread out, but lately, we’ve seen small groups of soldiers riding through.” He tipped his head Thalia’s way. “My guess is they’re looking for the heir to Kestevayne. Rumors have been floating around about your return.”
“We saw none on the way here,” Bastien said, a piece of bread poised in his hand. “But we were careful to stay off the roads.”
“Has she extracted blood oaths from the people in the valley?” Thalia asked.
“No,” Lawrence replied with a shake of his head. “She has everyone so terrified of her just by the horrors we’ve heard happening in Kestevayne and the other cities she’s conquering that no one here would think about rising up against her. I don’t think we’re worth her time right now, but if she’s not stopped, her plague will eventually reach us. For now, it’s enough that she’s put a barrier over the valley to impede travel by bending distance through to Kestevayne.”
Bastien had heard so many stories over the years about Ferelith’s atrocities. He’d seen many of them firsthand when the Kestevayne army, then under the control of his father, made a surging attempt to retake the city. Ferelith had used her blood oaths to control the people into fighting for her, making them no more than mindless creatures who would slit the throats of their own children if they were told to do so.
Just as bad as the blood oaths, Ferelith used blood magic to summon abominations from the Underworld to fight for her. The erchras she sent after Thalia in the First Dimension were but one of many species Kymaris had created in her dominion of Hell. Ferelith used them to cleanse cities of resistance fighters, and the most disturbing rumor was that every person who died after they gave their blood oath increased her power.
