House of Mages and Raven (Shades of Ruin and Magic #4)

Chapter 19

19

Sy

W ind danced in my tangled braids and warm light touched my cheeks. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment I felt disoriented, as it was vastly different from waking up within Barbie.

I found myself in bed, a real bed, and I wasn’t alone. I had a male companion. Rowan held me in his arms. I stretched myself against him, snuggling into him, just like I’d pictured a thousand times but never thought I would experience.

I turned my face and gazed up at my princeling to savor this moment. A pale ray of sun filtered through the canopy of ancient trees, kissing his thick lashes. His curvy lips tugged up in a pleased and lazy smile, lust seeping into his silver eyes.

His features were noble, yet he wasn’t the fae king’s true blood. No one knew about his birth secret except his queen mother, him, and me. And Barbie. One word from our mouths, and we would ruin him. But he never needed to worry about us. Even if he ever betrayed me like the chaos prince did to Barbie, I’d still carry his secret to the grave.

I might be morally gray, but I had my own code of honor.

I traced my thumb across his high cheekbones, brushing my claws over his skin carefully. He sucked in a breath. He could appreciate both my roughness and my tenderness.

“Good morning, little monster,” Rowan said softly.

He’d been watching me sleep. He was definitely hooked. I smirked, remembering our wild coupling all night. The feast would last me a week or two, and I could get used to this. I traced his chest with my fingers as he watched me quietly, something on his mind. Something was on my mind too.

I’d been observing the world through Barbie’s eyes and absorbed everything she’d learned. I’d evolved. I was no longer Barbie’s shadow or a wild creature who only cared to feed, fuck, and kill to protect my other half. I’d developed my own full-grown persona, needs, and intelligence.

With all the data and intel available to me, I was able to conclude that it was always more effective to play dirty politics and use others to fight our battles than claw our way out with blunt force.

Ever since Rowan had confided in me about his true heritage, I’d been worrying about him. And when he called me his mate, even though it’d been in the throes of passion, ambition took root and then grew in me.

I held his secret, so I had his best interests at heart.

It wasn’t impossible that one day I could become his queen. All the more reason to secure his position and make him a king. The chaos prince had bailed out of being Barbie’s protector, which gave me more motive to make sure Barbie and I had a safety net in Mist of Cinder.

First things first, we must get rid of Rowan’s fake dad and seat Rowan on the throne. If he wasn’t up to it, I wouldn’t mind getting my hands red. Assassination had always been a hot career, or I could just do it myself to save money. I could eat the current fae king, so no one would even know where he ended up.

I planned to do something spectacular now that my other half was curled up in the corner, eyes closed and handing me the reins. I’d promised her that I wouldn’t usurp her again. I was just stepping up for both of us to secure us a future while she was losing every fight.

“We need to eradicate the imminent threat,” I started, trying to dull the cold, calculating light in my golden eyes.

“What imminent threat?” Rowan asked lazily.

“The king isn’t your blood father,” I said, and he darted his silver eyes around. “Your secret is safe with me, and nothing we say here will be heard by unwanted ears. Underhill is the safest place ever.” Outside our love nest, the shadow beasts howled in confirmation. “You must secure your place on the throne and be the king before your fake dad has a chance to find out that you aren’t his blood. No secrets can be kept forever. Let’s take action before he does, and he will, as he is one of the cruelest rulers in the realm.”

Lurking within Barbie, I’d heard whispers that Rowan had been beaten by his “father” as a child since the king wanted to toughen up his heir. Rowan had barely returned to Kingdom of Fae since he’d come to Shades Academy unless he was summoned. He’d never mentioned the beatings, but he stayed away from his own court.

Picking up gossip and news here and there, I’d learned that none of the heirs, except Cade, had a nice childhood. As heirs, they had to carry heavy burdens and keep their eyes open at all times to watch out for backstabbers and power grabs in their courts.

Rowan narrowed his eyes on me. “What is this about?”

“You called me mate, didn’t you?” I asked. I didn’t do subtle. Either you were with me or against me. There was no gray area.

He flicked the tip of my nose. “So you heard. I thought you weren’t paying attention.”

I arched an eyebrow. “I miss nothing, even when I orgasm. Now that I’m your mate, as you said, your interests are also mine.”

“Then we’ll go out as a couple.”

I hesitated for a few breaths, as I wasn’t sure how much more time Barbie was going to give me at the wheel. If you couldn’t keep a promise, then you had no business promising anything. While I couldn’t exactly make a full commitment, I decided to turn the gunfire on him.

“Will your king approve of me?” I asked. “Will he approve of your choice?”

He blinked. He hadn’t thought it through.

“Was calling me mate a slip in the heat of passion?” I asked.

“You’re my mate. I felt it in my bones.”

“Words and feelings mean nothing without actions,” I said, remembering the futility of the chaos prince’s feelings for Barbie. His strong feelings shattered like pretty glass as soon as his fiancée queen stepped in and kicked Barbie to the curb.

Barbie might be a goddess, but no one knew what she was or appreciated her real worth. And she was but one person. Even with my backing her up, we had no social status. The underdog crowd she’d built had rushed to the new power. And our rival was the Queen of the Underworld, who had ultimate power and an army behind her.

We needed political power to win the fight. Barbie might be out, but she still had me—and Rowan was key to making a permanent home for us here. When he was king, I’d be his queen. With me as the Queen of Kingdom of Fae, we could go toe-to-toe against the demon queen. We could have a fae army fighting off Ruin and his Shriekers.

I must start to scheme now and create our own future. What wouldn’t I do to protect Barbie?

“I’ll fight for you,” Rowan said roughly. “First step, I’ll show you around so everyone will know you’re mine. Next, I want you to move in with me.”

“It isn’t that simple,” I said. “Every decision you make, you’ll have to go through your king father. I’ve heard that he isn’t exactly fond of you. Maybe deep inside his cruel black heart, he knows you aren’t his. I’m nobody in everyone’s eyes. I have no riches and no title. All I have is a brilliant mind, a gorgeous body, and some power no one knows about. Other supernaturals will laugh at you for choosing me.”

“I don’t give a fuck if those fuckers laugh at me,” he said. “I don’t even give a fuck what the other heirs think.”

“But when your king orders you to forsake me, there’s nothing you can do.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. I’d hit a nerve.

“I said I’d fight for you, and I meant it,” he said. “I won’t give you up.”

“Lip service is easy, sugar,” I said. “And what about the Brides Selection? Your court is expecting you, the heir, to find the One from the Selection.”

“I never plan to find a mate from the pool of the Selection,” he said. “I’m just go with the flow until it’s over.” Then his eyes brightened at an idea. “Why don’t you join the Selection like Barbie?”

“Barbie was dragged into the bride trials,” I said, hearing a rude yawn from her. She was waking up, and now she was pricking her ears to listen.

“But you’ll join the Selection willingly, little monster,” Rowan said eagerly. “So I can just pick you by the end of the day, and no one will be the wiser. Even the king won’t be able to object.”

One technical issue, though. I couldn’t, unless Barbie bowed out and pretended to flee the realm, and then I took over and entered the scene as me. It would never happen. Barbie might slumber, but she would never give up the reins completely. She was too dominant, even though she kept a low profile for now. Dominance was in her goddess blood.

“I’ve told you that I can’t join the Brides Selection,” I said quietly.

“Why not?”

“Even if I get into the pool, there’s no guarantee that we’ll end up together,” I said. “If you truly want me, you’ll go with my plan. You aren’t exactly safe either, princeling. You do not have a say in anything while your king father sits on the throne. Tell me that you’re absolutely safe in your own kingdom, and don’t lie to me.”

He was silent for a long beat before he said, “No one is absolutely safe.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said.

“Don’t fuss. You know I’ll protect you with my last breath,” he said fiercely.

I nodded in appreciation. “You told me your darkest secret. Now it’s my turn to tell you one of mine.”

Barbie stirred. What the fuck, Sy?

We can trust him, I argued. I won’t tell him everything, but I’ll tell him about Ruin, as you almost told the chaos prince before he joined his betrothed and the oracle.

“I have enemies, one of them more powerful than any others,” I confessed. “That’s why I’m hiding. That’s why I can’t show my face to anyone. You’re among the select few who have seen my true face.”

“Who is that powerful enemy?” he demanded, menace rolling off him.

I sucked in a breath as I waited for Barbie to try to stop me, but she remained mute. The chaos prince’s betrayal must’ve cut her so deep and damaged her confidence.

“Tell me,” Rowan said. “And your enemies shall be mine.”

“The God of Ruin,” I drawled and waited for my lover’s reaction.

His face was blank, as if he thought he’d heard it wrong, then surprise and rage flashed across it.

“A god?”

“The one and only awakening god,” I said. “A pure evil.”

“There have been rumors about the ancient god rising from the north.”

“They aren’t rumors.” I swallowed as Barbie’s dark emotions rippled toward me. “He’s real. You need to believe me.”

“I believe you.” He nodded. “I’ve suspected his existence for a while. My spies have sent reports of bizarre phenomena happening for years, like blight, magic draining from lands and cities in Europe, and now it’s coming toward our realm.”

Barbie shrank within me, guilt eating her up. She’d caused it, forced by our father and bound by his will. We’d been his slave, and he’d fed on us. But Ruin never found out that Barbie had always hidden the last few drops of magic deep within the soil to make sure the lands still clung to life, so one day, when we defeated our father and returned, we could revive all that we had destroyed.

“It was caused by Ruin,” I said.

“How did you cross paths with the ancient god?”

“I was his slave before I escaped him,” I said, shuddering. “It’s too painful even to mention his name. I don’t want to relive those memories of terror.”

He pulled me into his arms. “You don’t need to. I won’t ask.”

My belly warmed. Prince Rowan was a worthy male.

“Have you ever encountered the scorpion-machine hybrids that killed one of my people outside the Veil?” he asked, shadows of doubt and sorrow crossing his face.

“They’re Shriekers, Ruin’s soldiers,” I said.

“They came to hunt you?”

I nodded, my limbs feeling cold.

“Is the god hunting Barbie as well?” he asked.

“Why did you ask about Barbie?” My tone turned defensive.

“Barbie seemed to know how to kill those things,” he said. “She’s a puzzle, like you. But unlike you, she wreaks havoc wherever she goes. Now that she left Killian’s house, she’s going to wreck Cade’s house.” He chuckled. “Good luck, Cade. I warned him.”

Barbie bristled.

“She isn’t that bad,” I said in sympathy. “And Prince Cade can take care of himself and his house.”

“Does anyone else know about the God of Ruin hunting you?” Rowan asked.

“Only Barbie.”

“Is that how you became friends with Barbie? Did she help you escape?”

“Yes and no,” I said. “I don’t want to talk about Barbie.”

“Just tell her to keep her big mouth shut about you, and no more getting you clients unless she wants to make an enemy out of me.” He let out a pent-up breath. “I’ll work on getting an army ready in case Ruin and his army come knocking on our door. The heirs will join me. They’ll rally behind me to protect you, just as they defended Barbie.”

“It’ll take the whole realm and a lot more to counter Ruin,” I said. “We’ll need to have powerful allies. All the more reason that you must rule Kingdom of Fae. You must be king. I’m not afraid of getting my hands dirty. I’ll get rid of any obstacles and secure your throne before the king finds out, my prince. There’re hundreds of ways to murder someone. I know most of the methods. I can be discreet, and I can even eat your fake dad.”

“You’re joking, right?” He eyed me warily. “You also have Barbie’s morbid sense of humor.”

“Barbie has no sense of humor,” I replied. “And she’s all bark, but I bite. You must be the new fae king with me by your side, of course. Right now, I can only work part-time, and I’ll decide the hours, which have to be flexible.”

He stared at me, his brow knitting. “You’re serious?”

I grinned, flashing him my fangs and dazing him with my wild beauty. “Of course, princeling. I don’t waste time on bad jokes.”

Now he appeared fazed. “We’re talking about cold-blooded murder here, little monster!”

“Power shifts. It’s the way of things. Have you studied history or even read history books?” I asked. Barbie often read them while I was half-asleep. She read everything. She used to read a lot of military books. After she met the chaos prince, she got addicted to smut. She had spent a lot of time thinking about being fucked by him before they actually fucked each other. Well, they were no longer fucking each other and had let the queen get between them.

“History has nothing to do with my situation.” Rowan drew in a ragged breath. “Unlike the other heirs, I feel like an imposter. In fact, I am a pretender. I never want to be king.”

I appreciated his letting me see his vulnerable side that he would never show to anyone else. But now wasn’t the time to feel inferior and even withdraw.

“Everyone feels like an imposter,” I said. “I feel like an imposter too.” And sometimes, it really got under my skin with Barbie being the primary. Even now, while having a blast with my lover, I knew it wouldn’t last. Barbie would eventually take over. Even so, nothing could stop me from longing for my own identity and one day showing my superiority to the world. “But I feel amazing when I’m with you, sugar. You’re my hope.”

He kissed me. “My little monster.”

I gave him a sultry look, sliding my hand down his six-pack and going for his hard length, stroking it zealously. My fae stallion was always hard and vigorous, which pleased me. “I don’t understand why the world always paints ambitious women as the villains. Are men that threatened by the power of women?”

“Ambition is good, if it is aimed properly. But I insist on your not thinking of murdering anyone, or worse, eating them.” His gasps of pleasure turned to a growl. “Enough talk, little monster. If this is your plan to delay being fucked, your plan has failed. I like fucking in the morning.”

He spun me around and got me on all fours. The next second, he was behind me and thrusting into me, burying himself deep. I arched my back, ready for a good morning fuck. Just then, his tablet on the table vibrated loudly. He ignored it, but the tablet started to bounce on the wood. Uttering a curse, he picked it up while not missing a beat and driving into my tight channel. I looked over my shoulder as he browsed the tablet, trying to multitask.

“Fuck, they’re coming here,” he said.

“Who’s coming?”

“Who else? The obsessive idiot heirs,” he said. “They couldn’t find Barbie. She’s been missing since last night. She never returned to the House of Mages.”

“Is Prince Killian among them?” I asked for Barbie, and she sat up straighter, pricking up her ears.

“I bet he got them looking,” Rowan said. “He still thinks he’s responsible for her safety.”

“One night!” I shouted, annoyance brimming in my voice. “She was gone for only one night.”

“Last time she was missing for a few hours, and she was kidnapped,” he said.

“She’s fine this time,” I said.

He studied me. “How do you know? Where is Barbie? Where would she go? Killian also sent me a message saying that you raided Barbie’s room. He’s getting everyone to hunt for you as well. And why is it that Barbie and you never show up at the same time?”

My heart skipped a beat before I got my erratic, pounding heartbeat under control. Powerful supernaturals like my fae lover had superior hearing, and they could even smell fear and arousal.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demanded, looking over my shoulder and narrowing my eyes on him.

“You two have too many fucking secrets,” he growled, driving into me with his brutal force, and I moaned in pleasure while Barbie lunged to scoop up the juice produced by Rowan’s mighty thrusts and furious energy. I wished she was still asleep.

“Barbie’s lurking inside Underhill,” I said, tilting my head up to pretend to listen for her moves. “She’s close.”

Barbie devoured the energy and turned to hiss at me.

“Is she watching us fucking?” He darted his gaze around before he gave up and refocused on thrusting into me. “That girl.” He shook his head. “No one knows what to do with her. I hope she doesn’t set Cade’s house on fire. Again, I don’t envy his having her in his house.”

Barbie pouted. She never took criticism well, even when it was constructive. If you couldn’t be a good sport, how could you better yourself?

Rowan cursed again, his muscles tightening like whips as he kept thrusting into me. A party was coming toward Underhill. Time was running out. I slammed my ass back into his front, desperately wanting a release. Then I came hard on his cock, my cunt milking his massive length. He growled and fucked me wildly, chasing his release.

Unfortunately, the incoming party was close now. One of us had to take one for the team.

“Sugar, you’ll have to go and intercept your friends,” I said, wiggling my ass. “We don’t want them to discover our love nest.”

He kept pounding into me, lust and determination searing his hooded eyes, as he made a decision to finish it and let the world burn.

That’s not going to happen, Barbie snapped, then told her bestie Underhill, Kick him out.

But he hasn’t ejaculated, Underhill informed her.

I feel his pain. Throw him out now! Barbie said heartlessly.

Underhill sighed. A dark wind rose from the earth, tore my fae prince from me and shoved him out of the cabin toward the entrance of the forest. He struggled to reach for me, cursing profanely, but no force could combat Underhill.

A second later, his clothes and the tablet that still vibrated with messages followed in his wake and landed outside the forest as well.

A pack of shadow beasts trotted toward the entry to guard Underhill, growling threateningly.