Taunting Destiny

“For who? Who says you have to be strong anymore? You are allowed to fall apart, because I will hold you through it. You can crumble, and I’ll hold the pieces together until you can pull yourself out of it.”

It was surreal. I was sitting at the feet of the Horde King. Ryder had yet to show up, and my world was crashing down, endless waves rushing up to crush my dreams in one solid move. I could hear my siblings thinking—thinking that I was doomed. He’d take me to his bed tonight, and I was sure I wouldn’t walk away from it. I could see his anticipation in his lustrous eyes.

How could I have been stupid enough to think I could do this? I couldn’t kill the Horde King! He’d know it before I even tried. Hell, he’d know it before the thought crossed my mind. He was ten times more powerful than Ryder; ten times more brutal and deadly. I had to get him out of here before Ryder showed, and tried to kill this creature in front of me, and we all died from it. I felt myself shaking inside and prayed that others couldn’t see it.

“You belong to me now,” he said as I stared, mesmerized by his brands that pulsed with power on his pale skin.

“I do,” I whispered as I swallowed a lump down.

“I want your oath before this entire gathering that you belong to me,” he said, watching me as I inhaled, and let it out on a shuddering breath.

I held out my hand, knowing he would manifest a knife that would sever tissue easily. He probably had thousands of them. My brain whirred in panic with thoughts of how to get him out of here before Ryder showed up. I loved him! I couldn’t stand here and watch him die. The hand that reached for mine was surprisingly gentle, the blade pierced my skin, but it was shallow. It wasn’t the damaging slice I’d thought this monster would do.

His large hand came down to compress with mine, and I repeated the words he gave me.

“I am yours. I belong to no other. I am yours to do as you wish, until a time of your choosing, I am given,” I whispered and listened as the terrifying beautiful creature laughed wickedly. The wards on the walls lit up crimson and a multitude of other colors, as the verbal contract was sealed in blood.

And just like that.

Ryder could no longer challenge him for me.

I was now property, and a concubine of the Horde King.

And then he was there walking toward me. I wavered on my feet as I felt a blast of his power roll into the room. This wasn’t happening. Not when I’d just found my family and had found love with my fucking Fairy. I may not have gotten to keep it, but I loved him. He made my heart race, and he could turn me to butter with as little as a look in my direction. I was losing it all; nothing could save me from this creature. Not even Ryder.

I was pushed to my knees by my parents. My palms were sweating, and I felt the urge to throw up pushing at my stomach, fighting to come up. I closed my eyes and pictured the golden eyes of the one thing I’d miss the most. Ryder; he was the one thing I didn’t want to live without. I’d go with the Horde King, but I’d try my damndest to make it back to him.

I opened my eyes and watched as a pair of bare feet walked to me and stopped. Loose black silk trousers flowed just past his ankles, but stopped short from covering the top of his foot. I wasn’t allowed to look up unless he said so. I was to be obedient to his every whim. As if.

“This is the true first born daughter of your blood?” The voice that came out was multi-layered and cold. The people around us gasped as I cringed.

“This is my first born daughter,” my father said as he removed his hand from my shoulder.

Power vibrated through the room, unlike anything I had ever felt. My hair stood up, even though my mother had ensured it was as soft as silk. I watched as the bare feet made their way up to the dais where I was kneeling on the floor. I could just make out obsidian black wings that slightly dragged and brushed upon the floor. He was an enormous darkness, as if the entire realm could not contain him; could not contain his darkness, or his powers.

I couldn’t take it anymore and risked a peek at him. He was far beyond anything I could ever imagine. The stories didn’t do him any justice. It made sense now why the entire realm of Faery feared him. He was taller than I had pictured. Black velvet wings had razor sharp spikes varying in size that were fused to the bone along the top ridge of his wings and deceptively peeked out from the feathers. These spikes could tear into anything, severing and killing it instantly. His hair was long, reaching just below his shoulders and so black and shiny it seemed like it was absorbing the light. His skin was alabaster pale and his muscular torso and arms displayed black brands that seemed to ripple with power. A silver torque threaded with obsidian that matched his brands was around his neck, and the only thing he wore, aside from the silky trousers. Black eyes filled with the constellation of a thousand burning stars stared down at me with interest. He was breathtakingly beautiful and, yet, terrifying at the same time.

I wasn’t paying attention to them. Instead, I was smiling at Adam, who was moving up the line to stand beside his father.

“Adam!” I squeaked with happiness and threw myself in his arms. My poor outraged mother tried to pull me back.

“Synthia, you address him as Prince Cadeyrn, for he is the heir to the throne,” my mother chided.

Who gave a shit? I was about to be Horde kibble, and Adam was here!

“It’s quite all right, Madisyn. Adam is Synthia’s familiar. We had the pleasure of hosting her at the palace in hopes for her marriage to my son,” Kier said in his usual good natured manner.

“The room, please. I’d have a word with my daughter alone before she goes to the Horde,” my mother said, while keeping her eyes to the floor. When everyone was gone, she pulled out a small silver dagger. “This was blessed by Danu, for the protection of the princesses of the realm. It is said to be the only thing that can kill the Horde…that can kill him,” she whispered in a hushed tone as if the Horde King was lurking behind the door.

“What the hell is this supposed to do? Pick his teeth after he eats my bones?” I asked, holding the small thin wisp of a dagger up. It was tiny! I’d seen toothpicks that were more impressive than this thing was.

. “Never forget us. Remember, we loved you more than life, so when it became a choice, we made the right one. We have no regrets and you shouldn’t either.”

“Synthia,” she whispered and ran toward me as I stood and opened my arms.

I was still dreaming, I knew because she was dead. I’d killed her myself by deflecting the bullet she had aimed at me on that horrible day. There. I was sure I was dreaming, because, here, she had no blood from the gunshot, and no evidence of the horror that she’d endured at the hands of the Fae.

“Momma,” I whispered, afraid she’d disappear on me.

“Oh, Baby, you’re so grown up now,” she whispered and moved to close the distance between us.

“Momma,” I whispered and threw myself in to her arms. God, she felt so real. “I’m so sorry!” I sobbed, finally letting it all out.

“Synthia, you were only five years old. You couldn’t have saved us from the Fae. You did as I told you to, and it’s the only thing I wanted you to do that night. I need you to know that we have never blamed you for what happened to us. Never has it crossed our minds, Baby. You gave us what we couldn’t give ourselves; a beautiful daughter who, even though she was shy, she loved us in her own way. You gave us the innocent love of a child, and that itself was the greatest gift we could have ever known. We always knew that someday someone would come to try and take you away, but you were the one thing in our lives worth dying for. I wouldn’t change my life. I was a mother, and you make me proud to call you mine.”

“But I could have saved you both. I was strong, even then. One spell and we could have all been protected—we could have all lived,” I cried, pulling away from her.

“And if you couldn’t? We made a choice that night, Synthia; one that ensured that you would survive. A mother never takes a chance with her child’s life. I knew what they wanted when they came to the door. I could feel their hatred even before they knocked on it, and kicked it in. I knew how evil he was then. There was no way in hell I would allow him to find you.”

“I’m being given to the Horde King tomorrow, so you died for nothing,” I swiped the tears away furiously.

“I know, but you won’t end up unhappy, Baby. You will find your love; I promise you that. Synthia Raine, listen to me carefully. Hear what I am saying. Someday someone is going to look at you with a sparkle in their eyes as if you are the most beautiful woman alive. They’ll look at you like you are everything they’ve ever wanted, everything they’ve ever dreamt about. Wait for it, my daughter, for he will be the light that brings you to life, and lights your way through the darkness.”

I smiled through the tears. “I want what you and daddy had,” I replied softly.

“That is the key to finding what you need, Synthia; remember it always. Please remember that our sacrifice was not in vain, for you lived. You carry us with you and you will always keep us alive. In here,” she touched my heart.

He was right, it was a suicide mission, and while it sounded impossible, there had to be a way to do it. If not, how had the last Horde King managed it?

“I’m coming to get you, so get any thoughts of killing the Horde King right out of that mind of yours.” He lowered his mouth and kissed my forehead gently before his hand slipped between us, and ran over the flesh of my abdomen. “Promise you will let me save you and then we can figure out what to do about the contract.”

“I can’t promise you that,” I whispered and searched his eyes.

“Dammit woman,” he growled before claiming my lips in a bone melting kiss. “I’m coming to get you. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Ryder, I need you,” I moaned hungrily, but noticed he was moving away from me to stand up.

“Be a good girl for me and I’ll save you from the big, bad Horde King. I’m coming to get you, Pet, so remember you just admitted that you need me. Watch for me tomorrow, and don’t let these people talk you into doing anything stupid…like killing the Horde King who can’t be killed by just fucking anybody.”

“You gonna scale the walls and be my Prince Charming?” I asked, raising a delicate brow in question.

“No Pet, I’ll be your Prince Fucking Charming,” he smiled wickedly and disappeared.

“That’s their plan, and, of course, I’m once again unable to sift because of a stupid necklace,” I showed him the torque that Liam had magically wielded around my neck.

“At least, for now you are safe, and I know they won’t harm you,” he said hesitantly as he walked me with his body backward, his hard muscles pressed against mine until my legs folded as they connected with the bed.

I fell back against the soft mattress with a startled squeak, but his body pressed and held mine down, stifling any other complaints from my lips. He didn’t kiss me. Instead, his lips curled in to a wicked smile as his fingers played with a soft tendril of hair that had fallen over my face.

“They plan to give me to the Horde King tomorrow in some kind of ceremony in front of the entire kingdom,” I said softly, and quickly wetted my lips.

“I bet they do. It’s a show to ensure the Horde does not retaliate while under truce. Do you know anything else they have planned?” he continued.

“No, they plan to go through with giving me over, and that’s the end of it. Ryder, if he is like they say he is, I need you to tell me everything you know about the Horde King; weaknesses, shortcomings, anything that can help me—because I think the only way to get myself out of this mess is to kill the Horde King,” I said, knowing if I could tell anyone my plan, it was Ryder.

His eyes grew large and round. “You’re going to kill the Horde King? That’s a joke, right?” he asked as his eyes once again narrowed as he took in my face, which was all the proof he needed to tell him I wasn’t joking.

“No, it’s the only way to void the contract my parents made with him. We’ve thought him missing this entire time and he’s been here the whole time. My parents told me he makes regular demands from them, so he’s got to be around. If I take him out I’ll be free, Ryder. I’ll be free to go with who I want to, and I can help you find the real Light Heir and get the relics.”

“You’re talking about killing the Horde King; the fucking Horde King. Have you even thought about how disastrous that would be, not to just to your health, but to the entire caste of the Blood Fae? Or did your newly found family talk you into it?” He was mad, and it showed and resonated like a tuning fork from his entire body pressed against mine.

“It’s the only way I can get away from him. I’m going to the Horde King! I’m supposed to be some timid female. He’ll never expect it, so it’s perfect.”

Ryder glared down at me, “You think you’re the first fucking person to try killing him? He can’t be killed; your parents are sending you on a fucking suicide mission.”

“My father didn’t ask me to do it, and I won’t let him hurt me. There’s a way—there has to be a way to kill him,” I argued.

He stood there in a midnight colored cloak. His face was hidden by the shadows, until he pushed the hood off, and revealed his face. “It’s about time, Pet. I was beginning to think you’d never sleep.”

“I knew you would come for me,” I said, slipping off of the bed and standing up. I was ready to go, but then the weightless feeling came back. “You’re not here; this is a dream,” I whispered and lifted my eyes to his as my smile fell.

“I need to know where you are and how badly you are hurt,” he said, stepping closer to me.

“I’m with my parents, and I wasn’t hurt too bad. It was easily healed.”

“Funny girl,” he retorted, “Tell me where you are being held, Synthia.”

“I’m with the Blood King and Queen,” I said and smiled as his eyes widened with shock as my words sank in.

“Why are you with the Blood King?” he asked carefully, placing his hands on my shoulders and pulling me close against his body.

“Because, he is my father,” I whispered as I pressed myself against him, and lifted my arms around his neck.

“Synthia, this is serious,” he growled throatily as he lowered his mouth to the tender flesh behind my ear and nuzzled it with his nose softly. It sent heat pulsing to one particular spot between my thighs. “I need you to tell me why you think they are your parents, when you wouldn’t believe the Light Fae were.”

“Ryder, they knew about the tattoo that suppressed my powers, as well with the wards on the walls of my house. They did it to hide me, so you were right, they didn’t abandon me. They did it to protect me, and when I met my father something inside of me clicked into place. As if the final pieces to my life were meeting and connecting. I felt him inside of me. They said they took me to the Harvest Festival, and they also told me that they buried a child in a tomb that was marked for me. They did it all because they agreed to some sort of contract with the Horde and my father to get my brother back and stop the fighting between the Horde and the Blood Fae. Now that I’m back, they said they have to give me over to him, or this stupid war they have going will never end with him.”

He pulled back from me and shook his head in wonder. “That means you really aren’t the Light Heir. Shit.”

“Does this mean I don’t have to marry Adam now?”

He hesitated, but when I tried to pull away from him as the pain lashed through me with his unspoken words, he pulled me back. “No, you don’t have to marry Adam. The contract is void if you are not the Light Heir. This puts a new spin on things, though, and we still need to get you out of the Blood Court.”

“Well, then there’s also the part where I’m to be given to the Horde King tomorrow.” I mumbled it, because saying it out loud just tasted dirty.

“They are planning on giving you to the Horde? Are you sure?” he asked as everything in his face, emotion wise, shut down.