To Scale the Emerald Mountain (The Willowbane Saga #1)

48. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

ELLYA

C escily crafts an elaborate half updo in my lilac hair, curling pieces to frame my face.

I wince as she works. Her fingers are not nearly as gentle as Nana’s, or Makhoi’s, but her talent is undeniable. I sit in my vanity chair facing my mirror, watching her masterpiece unfold as she prattles away happily. “I am so happy you are joining us for dinner.” Another tug as Cescily brushes a strand of locks before twirling them around a heated rod. Her short hair took mere seconds for her to brush out and run some sweet-smelling pomade through.

Cescily’s dress hangs on the washroom door next to mine; a form fitting black number with silk panels under the arms, painted like a monarch butterfly’s wings when she raises her arms over her head. I assume our dresses were made by the same tailor.

“Garrick and his family won’t be joining, Anahleise has been showing signs of labor,” Cescily tells me.

“Maybe the baby and I will share a birthday,” I say, wincing as she roughly runs the brush through the bottom layers of my tresses that wave above my shoulder blades .

“That’s exactly what I’m hoping for!” She taps the brush against my shoulder. I wince again. “Two Samhain babies in the family? How perfect would that be.”

“Yes, Cessy. Prefect,” I grumble as I stand.

She tries to push me back down in the seat, but I resist. “I’m not finished, Elly!”

I laugh and swat her away. “Well, I certainly am.”

Cescily retrieves my dress and removes it from the hanger. “The costume train is removable. There are buttons hidden under the silks to take it off.” She shows me the row of large buttons hidden under the faux feathers before holding the dress out for me to step into. After she’s secured the long line of buttons down my back, I slide on my black flats and pick up my silk mask while Cescily dresses.

“Why couldn’t mine just slip over the head like yours?” I ask her.

Cescily responds with a lilting laugh before telling me, “Please, you should know by now that anything Alec has for you will be grand and over the top.”

Putting the mask to my face, I secure the ties at the back of my head. I turn to the full-length mirror and check myself from every angle. Turning back to Cescily, I wear a wide grin. “It is grand, isn’t it?”

I tune in to Alec’s presence entering the room before he speaks. “Only because it is you who is wearing it,” the deep, silky voice calls from the door.

Turning quickly, I find him leaning against the frame, his hands dug deep in the pockets of his pants.

Alec is wearing a finely tailored black suit that hugs his muscles in the most delicious places. As striking as he is in the suit, the true nature of his Samhain costume is what made me gasp. He isn’t wearing a mask like me and Cescily—instead his entire face and neck are painted black and white to resemble a skull, a vibrant shadow of death. His hair is slicked back and painted silver with long streaks of gold.

Cescily claps her hands excitedly. “Oh, I love it!”

“It is the same as it is every year, Cessy.” Alec removes his hands from his pockets and strolls towards me.

“You look…” I begin, but my words taper off. I finish by swallowing hard instead.

Alec chuckles before adding helpfully, “Dashing? Ravishing?”

“Both.”

He scans me head to toe before snaking an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “There are no words to accurately describe you, Ellya. You are perfection.”

Alec runs the tip of his nose down my neck, and Cescily groans. “Can you not while I’m here?”

“If you do not want to see me show affection to my mate, do not be here,” he says against my skin, but I push him away.

“I must agree with Cessy this time. You will ruin my perfect costume with all that paint before we even have a chance to leave my chambers.”

Alec responds by rubbing his face over my bare skin.

“Hey!” I scream in protest, but he just laughs and pulls away. I expect for his paint to be a smudged ruin, but it’s as perfectly haunting as it was before his assault on my neck.

“Do not fret, my clove. It is just a glamour. I will not soil your beautiful dress with my costume.” Alec smiles at me playfully. “But perhaps I may soil it in other ways.” He leans forward and kisses me deep. I willingly accept, pulling him to me.

Cescily groans louder than before .

“Why are you still here, Cessy?” Alec asks with impatience, his heat drenched eyes never leaving mine.

“Gods, will you two please just complete your bond? You both clearly want it,” she says brightly, patting me on the shoulder as she walks past me on her way out. “See you at dinner.”

When we hear the door to the bedchamber close, I pull Alec’s face to mine, kissing him hungrily, proving Cescily’s point.

Since I stabbed him, Alec and I have spent nearly all of our time together, and we hold each other while we sleep. After we both released our sexual tension on that first day, he hasn’t caved to my advances, holding steady to his control.

But right now, something is different. Something between us has shifted since our declarations of love while soaking in the sun. I felt such peace and happiness, fully content with where I was and who I was with. I knew that there is nowhere else I want to be than right beside Alec, his fingers tracing over my skin.

I have been asking myself all afternoon, What am I waiting for?

I don’t have an answer, but I do know that I’m finished waiting and ready to claim my happiness.

Alec matches the fervor of my kiss with his own, his primal instincts recognizing the shift in me. This deep untapped want, this hunger and necessity within me demanding to claim. Claim. Claim .

My teeth throb with delightful pressure, my heart seemingly trying to beat out of my chest and reach toward his.

Alec holds me close, kissing me hard before abruptly breaking away on a growl. “I thought you did not want me to ruin your dress before you have a chance to flaunt it?”

“I’ll just get another,” I pant heavily and lean in for more .

Alec pulls away laughing. “You obviously have no idea how much time and effort went into making that dress.” He gives me a soft kiss on the cheek and tells me, “If you are ready for me to ravage you, I will happily do so. But right now, we are late for a dinner that we happen to be hosting.”

“I know. Let’s go.” Grabbing his hand, I make for the door, ready to start the celebrations and see where they lead us. But Alec doesn’t budge.

“One last thing,” he says, walking to my vanity and rummaging through the contents of the surface before picking up a gold tube of lipstick. He uncaps it and rolls it up, inspecting the shade. Alec smiles faintly at it and motions for me to come to him. I reach for the tube, but he holds it away and sweeps his hand towards my vanity chair.

“Allow me.”

I give him a surprised smile but sit, tilting my head up and parting my lips. Alec holds my chin in his hand as he carefully applies the lipstick with intense focus. The sight of this brutal and foreboding man applying makeup on me is so ridiculous, I can’t help but giggle.

“Hold still,” Alec chides. I suppress another laugh as he finishes and smiles down at me. “Done,” he whispers, brushing the pad of his thumb below my bottom lip to clear a smudge.

“The day you came home with your new hair, wearing this wicked lipstick, I nearly lost my composure when I saw a small smudge—just here,” he rubs his thumb over the spot again.

Alec drops his hand, rolling the lipstick back down the tube and capping it. His eyes meet mine again. “For days after, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to smear the color all over you while you choked on my cock. ”

My eyes widen at the unexpected filthy words, and my cunt clenches as the image forms in my mind. He deposits the tube into his pocket before leaning down to me, his mouth against my ear.

“The first time I fuck your throat, you will wear this, and I will make a wild mess of your gorgeous face while you gag and moan around me,” Alec whispers. “Would you like that?”

Unable to find words, I nod and lean into him.

He backs away and turns to the mirror to adjust his suit and hair, as if he is completely unaware of the wave of wet desire he just brought forth between my legs. I stand shakily, my knees weak. Alec catches my reflection in the mirror and winks before turning to me, tucking my hand in the crook of his arm to lead me to dinner.

We walk silently through the residence, Alec’s warmth seeping through our clothes, calm and comforting. As we get closer to our destination, my heartbeat increases. He must sense my nervousness setting in because he squeezes my hand gently before saying, “We will not stay long. The dinner is usually short, the children ready to go collect sweets.”

“It’s fine, Alec. We’ll stay as long as you want to. I know this is important to you.” I lift my free hand to rub his affectionately. “I’m fine.”

“It is important to me, but so are you.”

We exit through a downstairs sitting area, clearing the porch, and walk through the courtyard and the arched partition separating the garden. Hundreds of candles have been set out and lights strung around the garden, setting it aglow with softly flickering flames in the twilight hour. A cacophony of voices and laughter come from the long table, nearly full with all the siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles who have come to celebrate .

I see Nana with Leisah, Alec’s mother, chattering and laughing happily. Nana looks up at me, surprised. Leisah turns her head and sees us approaching, and her face lights up. She gives me a wide smile and nods her head at me in greeting, not bringing overt attention to our arrival.

Some of my nervousness eases.

Alec and I walk to the head of the table where he pulls out the chair to his right, holding my hand until I’m seated before taking his own. The family notices us now and a loud, collective cheer of greeting meets us before conversations resume. I scan the faces at the table, more difficult to pinpoint because of the costumes, but I recognize most everyone here.

Alec’s only brother in attendance, Caison, is wearing a matching suit to his and has applied the same glamour. His sisters and their families are scattered throughout. Most everyone is wearing a mask similar to mine.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming to your own party, brother,” Caison calls down the table, giving Alec a knowing smile before drinking from a chalice.

Alec smirks and pours us both a glass of wine from a dark bottle.

“Well, it is a large palace for our dear king to navigate,” I snark and pat Alec’s hand. He gives me a pleasantly shocked smile.

Caison laughs. “That’s a fair point, Elly. Did he ever tell you about the time Kraeston and I gave him a fake map of the palace when we were children?”

Grinning, I reply, “No, I can’t say that he has.” I turn to Alec imploringly.

Alec narrows his eyes down the table at Caison. “Yes, nothing like a story about being tricked as a child by your best friend and little brother to impress a woman. ”

Caison grins. “Brother, if you’d ever truly had to work to impress a woman, you would know that childhood stories certainly do the trick.”

Alec gives Caison an incredulous glare, but the burning rage of jealousy everyone expects from me doesn’t quite rear its head at Caison’s insinuations.

Cescily breaks the brother’s stare off with a chiming laugh. “I don’t think anyone can argue that Alec has worked very hard to impress Elly.”

Several members of the family have turned their ears towards our conversation and laugh, mumbling their agreement.

Caison grins wider. “Too true, Cessy.”

“Well, now I’m curious. What did he think he was going to find with this map?” My amusement kicks higher when Alec hangs his head in his hands with genuine embarrassment.

“Oh gods,” Leisah says. “Are you talking about the time you locked Alec in the crypts?”

More people at the table are tuning into our conversation while Caison turns innocently to his mother. “I’m just helping dear Elly make the point that they were late for entirely innocent reasons.” Caison’s words drip sarcasm; he gives us both a knowing grin.

A roar of laughter erupts at the table. It’s infectious, and I’m not embarrassed by the comment. It’s playful, teasing—not cruel. And most of all, it’s true. I can’t help but laugh and glance at Alec who is peeking out from behind his hand and grinning at me, light pink staining his cheeks.

“Careful, Caison. Little ears are around. Including your own children.” Alec gestures towards the small children sitting on either side of Caison and his wife.

“That was so over their heads.”

“What’s on my head, Papa?” one of the girls asks with concern, placing her hands on top of her head.

Everyone laughs again.

“Nothing sweet girl. Just Papa making a joke.” Caison kisses the top of her head, and she returns to eating her buttered roll, too impatient to wait for the meal.

“I’m guessing you weren’t looking for a crypt with this map, then?” I ask Alec, desperately wanting to hear the rest of the story. He shoots daggers at his brother who is still trying to feign innocence.

“Of course not. I was eight, and one of the nursemaids at the time told us silly boys a story about child warriors from the Original War; how they were given special, magicked armor.”

Leisah cuts in, cradling one of her many grandchildren to her chest, rocking the toddler back and forth while she speaks. “Not only did that mad woman tell them those nonsense stories, she told them that all sorts of relics from the Original War were stored within the palace. Including the golden child armor.” She rolls her eyes with impertinence. “Alec and Locane were desperate to find it, no matter how many times I told them it wasn’t real.” Leisah says the name fluidly, and no one at the table is tense or uncomfortable by it, adding to my gradually increasing ease around everyone.

I turn back to Alec with giddy disbelief.

“What? We were eight and just learning to fight. Why would we not want to find magicked armor that would fit us?” he explains exasperatedly.

Caison laughs. “They searched all over the palace. I mean, everywhere. Explored long forgotten corners. In their defense, the place is gargantuan. When they couldn’t find anything, they started saying there must be some prints or a map of the palace somewhere that would show the room holding the relics.”

Caison is getting excited now, talking animatedly with his hands. “Me and Kraeston helped at first, but pretty quickly got bored with it and started to think the whole thing was just stupid.”

I laugh. “I’m inclined to agree.”

“Thanks, Elly,” Alec says sarcastically, and I shoot him a dazzling smile.

I hold Alec’s gleaming eye for a moment while Caison continues the story, telling how him and Kraeston came up with a scheme to get Alec and Locane off the search. I can’t help but notice the parallels between this story from the twins’ childhood and what is now transpiring in their adult life.

Alec winks at me subtly before we turn our attention back to his brother.

Apparently, Alec and Locane are very competitive with each other and fought horribly. Eventually they started fighting about looking for the armor. Unable to stand it anymore, Caison and Kraeston devised their plan, playing them against each other and giving them each a fake map that Kraeston created. Locane’s ended in a half collapsed dungeon on one end of the palace, while Alec’s led to an ancient family crypt on the other end.

When they both reached their destinations, Kraeston locked Alec in the crypt and Caison locked Locane in the dungeon.

Everyone is halfway through their meal that had been served during the story and is laughing as it wraps up. Caison wipes tears of amusement from his eyes when Alec points his fork at him and says, “That was quite diabolical for a seven-year-old. I had nightmares for months. ”

“And it was worth all the lashings I received for it. If Kraeston were here, he would agree.”

Alec laughs. “Yes, and I am sure you will have that same mentality when your girls start giving you a taste of how you were as a child.”

Caison salutes Alec with his cup, “And I’m sure you will still hold that sentiment the day you have your own children—and they are as much terrors as you. Don’t lie to Elly and pretend you were some model child.”

Leisah nods. “He’s right. You were a force. All of you were,” she turns her head and beams at Cescily. “Except you, Cessy. You were always my sweet girl.”

Cescily smiles wide right back while the table erupts with laughter.

“No, Mother. Cescily has just been the best at not getting caught,” Alec corrects.

Cescily shrugs her shoulders. “I learned from the best.”

“Lies,” Alec shoots. “We were all adults by the time you came around.”

“I wasn’t talking about any of you.” Cescily swivels her head to me and raises her cup before drinking. I don’t try to defend myself and instead salute her back.

The dinner finishes with more shared stories and laughter. I’m steeped in bliss with the night and what’s transpired, being at home, loved, accepted, and safe. Every bit a member of this family I was not born into but always meant to join.

By the time everyone has laid the belongings of their lost loved ones on the altar, and the candles are being lit, the children are whining to make their rounds through the neighborhoods for treats. The parents try to shush and bribe them with the promise of unlimited access to their spoils.

The fire of Alec’s gaze rakes over me while I take them in and turn to him beaming. He walks over to me, reaching in his pocket to pull something out. I think he’s about to produce my tube of lipstick and wonder if he’s about to start spitting filth in my ear surrounded by our family, but instead he pulls out a small, decorative comb and places it in my hand. The cool texture sends an odd ripple of nostalgia through my body.

“What’s this?” I ask him, looking down to inspect it. It’s made of pale, pink marble carved into roses.

“For you—to add to the altar.”

My eyes snap up to Alec and my heart clenches tightly, knowing who it belonged to.

“Father destroyed all of my mother’s belongings in his grief,” I whisper as my fist closes around the comb.

Alec shakes his head with a sad smile. “I did not get this from your father.” He takes my free hand. “When you were a child, I went to the Gleisheon Territory to speak to your grandmother. While I was there, I was able to convince her to give me one small part of Tellisha for you to have.”

A tear escapes my eye and runs down to absorb into my black mask. Alec releases my hand to wipe the damp part of exposed skin beneath my eye. More tears well as I bring my clenched fist to my chest, holding the comb tightly to me.

“Alec...” I start but he stops me.

“I do not want you to say anything. Just accept it and be close to your mother tonight.”

I nod, and he takes my hand, leading me to the filled altar. There are many shining eyes around, accepting the hurt of their losses, mixed with the appreciation of having had their loved ones at all. Alec’s hand is on my lower back when I place the comb on a small piece of free space, calm and sure, and a weight lifts from my heart.

The beauty of the moment and the pulsing energy of everyone throughout the city celebrating the joys of life and love through the losses guaranteed for all washes over me, creating a deep feeling of acceptance that I don’t quite understand, but am happy to accept nonetheless.

Everyone says their goodnights and disperses shortly after to move on to their other events planned for the evening. Many arms hug my neck and the love of the large family envelops me like a cozy blanket. I’m grateful for each one of them.

For whatever reason, the Fates bore me to a mother who would not live past bringing me into this world; to a father who struggled to release unfair blame put on me for stealing his wife. The Fates in turn bound me to a large, tight knit family. No family is perfect, and the Vahnsing’s are no exception. But in times of hardship, they lean on each other, and that support extends to me.

The atmosphere is heavy—but not unhappy—as Alec and I wave goodbye to Cescily at the gate of the private drive.

As soon as Alec turns to me with a grin, that heaviness lifts, and I return his smile. “Are you ready to celebrate?”

I nod enthusiastically, and he grabs my hand before pulling us into the void.