The Bastard Queen (Viciously Yours #2)
Chapter Thirty-Two: Fraying Restraint

~Cillian’s P.O.V~

Gradually waking, my eyes remained sealed as I listened for what woke me. A heavy moment of anticipation passed before I cracked my eyes open to gaze discretely around the room. The metallic flashing of my eyelashes made it harder to see in the darker corners of the room but it wasn’t long until I realized that no one else was in the room with me. Twisting onto my back, I raised up on my elbows to look around the empty room in confusion.

What woke me?

Pulling the thick comforter back, I carefully placed my bare feet on the cold floor. The wood creaked slightly underneath my weight as I crossed the dark room towards the bathroom. Ears still straining for whatever had awoken me, I had barely walked over the threshold of the bathroom when I heard it. A low rumble.

Freezing in place, I slowly looked down at the wooden floor as they began to vibrate. There’s no quakes in Tir Na Nog. I thought, brows drawing together. Understanding and dread filled me when the entire Estate gave a harsh buck. At least not natural ones. Moving as quickly and as steadily as I could on the shaking floor boards, I headed to the adjoining door while shouts from the hall intensified. Gripping the door knob, I stumbled over the threshold and came to a teetering stop at the foot of her bed.

Shiny blue hair laid plastered against the white pillows as her sharply defined face twisted from side to side. With another groan spilling from her plump lips, the walls shook violently sending down a fine dusting of wood shavings. The growing panicked screams echoing throughout the Estate had me racing to her side. Grabbing onto her shoulders, I yelled her name as I shook her harshly.

Head lulling to the left, her face scrunched up in pain sending another round of bone rattling jolts. A loud crack had my head snapping up to see a large crack spreading across the wall above her head. She’s going to bring down the whole Estate. When the entire room swayed in time with her mumbles, alarm sparked me into frantic action.

“Macha! Wake up!” I roared over the rumbling Estate.

My hands slipped from her shoulders in mild shock as a blue light shined through the skin of her eyelids. This was the second time that her true self had peeked through despite the lack of her transformation. The first time it happened was in the hall before she joined the others for dinner, her eyes had glowed like she had just made a deal. But the light coming from her closed eyes now, was much more luminous.

A loud splintering sound from the hall forced me to take drastic action. Forgive me. Shaking my head clear of any hesitation, I pulled my right arm back and flung it forward in a harsh slap across her face. One that never connected.

Her hand snapped up around my wrist in a grip that could rival iron as the tremors rocking the Estate instantly stopped. The light from her open eyes grew in intensity until I reluctantly turned my head away from her raw Divinity. Heartbeat increasing, I kneeled at the side of her bed with my wrist in her hand and waited for Macha to come forth.

“Tell me, Acolyte.”

I stilled at the sound of her voice. It wasn’t the one that I had heard countless times before, full of passion and mirth. No, this one was hauntingly other and detached. It reminded me of when her father would spin lies to create chaos within the court. It sounded like the voice of a god.

“Are you the one my father spoke of? The someone who’d love me no matter which path I took? Destroyer or Savior?”

A shiver raced through me as she ran the knuckles of her free hand over the metal mask covering my face and whispered, “Or will the sight of thousands crushed beneath my throne turn you away?”

Swallowing thickly at the heat of her Divinity shining down on me, I gave the only answer I knew to be true in my heart, “I’d burn the realm in your name if you willed it.” Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You wouldn’t, not yet. But you will.” Her words trailed off in time with her hands sliding free of my face and wrist.

The moment her grip on my wrist disappeared, I jumped to my feet and gave her my back. Placing my hands on my hips, I took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t love Macha. I felt strongly for her, that was obvious enough to me but it wasn’t love. At least not yet. I was devoted to her true reign as Queen no matter which way it went so why would she doubt me? I thought we were past this distrust...but it wasn’t her that was speaking. It was her God side so what did it see that even I couldn’t see about myself? What was her Divine ability?

“Lilly?”

The groggy croak of her voice startled me into turning around. With a tattooed hand pressed against her forehead, she pushed herself into a slumped over position against the headboard.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in my room?” She grunted sleepily, blue hair puffed up around her head.

I fought against the softer feelings her half asleep form brought out in me to ask, “Didn’t you feel the shaking?”

“What?” She barked, suddenly alert. “What’s shaking? Are we under attack?”

“Do you remember the conversation we just had?”

Naturally blue brows furrowed as she sat upright, “What conversation?”

“Never mind.” I muttered, eyes drawn to the blue diamond resting above her bound chest. She’s still wearing it.

Warmth like a blooming flower flowed over my chest until I felt like it’d burst, a sense of pride following close behind. It felt right seeing her wear something of mine because I didn’t buy it like I had led her to believe. I crafted it for her centuries ago when she was still a child and I was her young guard. When I found out who she’d become to the realm and who I had suspected she’d become to me in the far distant future.

“The one night I choose not to sleep naked, you stare at my chest like it holds the secrets of the realms.” She snarked under her breath.

Lips curving underneath the mask, I shook my head in amusement, “Get up. We’re leaving.”

“Why?” She asked, already getting to her feet despite the question.

“Because you almost brought down the entire Estate in your sleep. There’s no way Mab hasn’t already heard about this and your visit to the Dunns.”

“I did?”

Her lean, barely covered, body pulled my focus momentarily as she walked past me, “Uh, yes. You did, you had another nightmare and your eyes were glowing. It wasn’t for the first time either. I think you might be transforming sooner rather than later.”

“Fucking fantastic.” She sighed out on a yawn. “We’ll ride out to the MacDuffys Estate. Give the soldiers a break from traveling.”

Fabric rustled out behind me as I told her, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mab’s soldiers will be on the roads looking for you.”

“I’m counting on it. Now, are you going to keep standing there showing off your alright-ish physique or are you going to go pack?”

“Alright-ish?” I scoffed, raising my arms and flexing my back for her to see. “Is not a word, Cell Bait.”

My little joke backfired when her hands suddenly slid over the heated skin of my back to rest against my upper chest. The cloth of her tunic scratched my skin lightly as her body shifted to get impossibly closer. Small puffs of air ghosted over my bare shoulder causing the skin to raise at the same time her hand drifted down my torso. Muscles tightening, I waited with bated breath and lowering lids for her next move.

“Too bad you’re not a Choco Blast.” She taunted before the wet heat of her tongue lashed over the curve of my shoulder followed by the sting of her teeth.

Whipping around, I slid my hand around her neck with my thumb underneath her chin forcing her face up to mine. Hooded blue eyes stared defiantly back at me as I felt her hidden swallow roll against the skin of my palm. Yanking her closer, a grunt escaped her chest when I wrapped a firm hand around her hip and squeezed. Deep breaths left my chest at the sight of her pink tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip teasingly.

Before I spoke, I knew there was no hiding how my voice had deepened in arousal. “Why? I taste better.” And as soon as she opened her mouth to respond, I dropped my hold on her and took a step back. Turning around with a smirk at the shocked look on her face, I called over my shoulder, “Be ready in ten.”

“Fucking tease.” She hissed as I closed the adjoining door behind me.

…………………………….

Sliding my hand between the leather strap of the saddle and the fine light brown hair of the Kelpies’ side, I made sure it wasn’t pinching his skin while periodically glancing over at Macha. In a pair of black leather pants and a white tunic with blue trim, she looked like her usual self. Though her expression was pinched as she spoke with the O’Sullivans and the Murphy’s. The moonlight shining from above made the tattoos on her body glow and gave her an ethereal effect. Maybe I should have just kissed her and stopped this seductive dance we seemed to be trapped in.

Divines. Just fuck her already, your wining for it.

Surprised, I snapped my head to the left and found a pair of large black eyes staring back at me. With a white stripe down the middle of his long face, I grew agitated at the way his lips showed off his sharpened teeth in a sneer. Moving closer until we were face to face, I glared at him through my silver mask, Get. Out. Of my head.

Oh, trust me Frosty. I would but until I take you where you need to go? I’m stuck in that sap trap you call a brain.

We don’t have to communicate so get out.

He snorted, throwing his brown mane with a toss of his head, You’re lucky I’m here to help.

I don’t need your help. I snapped back, flashing my eyes back to Macha to make sure she was still occupied.

Look man, it’s obvious you have no game. Like zero. Thankfully, I’m my herds stud so I know things. What you need to do is bite her on the ass.

Eyes widening in disbelief, I stared into his solid black eyes and repeated, Bite her on the ass?

Yup. Right on the cheek with those needle teeth you have when she least expects it.

No.

Huffing, he stopped his hooves and glanced over at Macha before looking back at me, Trust me. A filly like that? You’ve got to lock her down before some other asshole comes along and bites her first. She’s a Queen so it needs to be permanent and the ass is the perfect spot for everyone to see.

Shaking my head, I stopped when I noticed the others looking over and pulled my hood further over my face. She’s a female Fae, not a filly. Our kind doesn’t do things like that. And again, I don’t need your help.

You are the biggest idiot, I have ever met.

Not surprising since you can’t count yourself.

Oh, okay, Big guy. I’ll make sure to laugh on her coronation day when I see you glaring bitterly up at the King or Queen Consort beside her.

My eyes narrowed as rage exploded through me at the image he put in my head, Who said I wanted to be her King Consort? Maybe I just want to fuck her.

The nameless male Kelpie stared at me for a long moment before throwing his head back and stomping his hooves as he neighed in laughter. The dick actually pranced around me while he laughed, drawing everyone’s attention including Macha’s towards us.

Bahahahaha, yea. Cause you give a diamond that big to some common filly you wanna plow! Hahahaha, Divines. I’m in your head, you fuck! I literally felt the disgust rolling through you after you said that. You have it bad, man. What’s stopping you, huh? Are you afraid or something?

No. She doesn’t need to be distracted right now, it’s not the right time.

I’m calling bullshit. He said, stopping his prancing to nudge at my shoulder with his head. That filly may not need a distraction but something tells me she needs an anchor and that anchor could be you.

Brows furrowing, I was going to tell him to shove his half cooked metaphor up his ass when he nudged my shoulders harder. Annoyed, I shoved my shoulder back into his face but he just did it again.

Look at her, damnit.

Turning my head, I spotted Macha up on her own six foot tall Kelpie in time to watch her throw both middle fingers to the sky. Long blue hair dangled down her back as she shook her head at the grey clouds coming in and pointed a finger at them, yelling “Fuck you, Father! I’m doing it!”

Sexy and crazy. Bite her on the ass.

Shooting him a dirty look over my shoulder, I barked, Enough about the ass biting.

Don’t be a pussy. She might like it, lots of fillies do. The Kelpie leered, his lips pulling back to show off his pointed teeth.

Ignoring him now, I turned and got a grip on the saddle before hauling myself up onto his back. Twisting to look at his rear, I made sure our bags were secured and then gave him a nudge in Macha’s direction. There was a pause where he huffed and stomped his feet before he moved in a smooth trot. His large hooves clomped us out of the stables and across the small courtyard to stand beside Macha’s Kelpie. The black haired Kelpie took one look at my light brown haired one and snapped her sharpened teeth in his direction in warning.

Laughter lit the air a moment later as Macha leaned down to pat the side of her Kelpie’s neck, “Your kelpie tried to bite her on the ass when she was sleeping.”

I rolled my eyes, not the least bit surprised since he was trying to get me to do the same thing. Shifting my hands on the reins, I watched my Kelpie lower his head a little and nudged the female’s neck. In a sudden movement, the female reared up and tossed her head in the air with a neighing scream. Concerned that the Kelpie had sent her flying, I looked past the still rearing Kelpie to find Macha clinging to her with her thighs and her hands in the air. With a grin as large as the sun plastered across her face that had me wondering why I even bothered being concerned.

The Kelpie’s hooves hit the ground with a thunderous shake that cracked the dirt beneath her feet causing my own Kelpie to take a few steps back. Eyes bright in excitement, Macha dropped her hands to grab the reins and maneuvered her Kelpie to face us with their backs to the Estate gate. Strapped down to the T with her weapons and the new forearm shields, she looked every inch the warrior Queen that the Prophecy foretold.

“Listen up!” She called out. “Tonight, we ride out to the nearby MacDuffy Estate! We will be taking the main road there, in full view of everyone! We should reach the Estate by midday tomorrow! And if we happen to run into any of Mab’s soldiers on the way?” Cutting her eyes to the left and then to the right, she reached back and pulled her swords free. Blue blades shimmering in the white light of the moon, she flashed pointed teeth in a malicious smile, “Well, I think it’s time we showed her a glimpse of her future!”

Cheers and shouted agreements of the enemy’s gory death rang out behind me, the soldiers fevered bloodlust bringing a dull glow to Macha’s eyes as she looked them over. There was a moment when I thought she was going to say or do something more but she just shouted for us to move out. Her pitch black Kelpie turned on its hooves and shot off at full speed between the barely opening gates. Yanking on the reins, I shot out between the narrow opening and barreled down the dirt path after her.

What a filly! So bloodthirsty! Did you see her bared teeth during your filly’s speech? I have got to try and bite that ass again!

Stop calling your future Queen a filly.

She’s not our Queen Mare of the Kelpies yet. Not until the war is won and we are granted majority power in all decisions pertaining to Tir Na Nog’s bodies of water. That was the deal and only then will I stop calling her a filly.

Choosing not to respond, I leaned forward in the saddle until my head was a bit behind his and urged him to go faster. Eyes trained on the rippling mass of blue hair about twenty feet in front of me, I squinted against the cutting wind threatening to freeze the metal mask to my skin. The sound of beating hooves pounded in my ears along with the heavy breathing of the horses as we raced down the path.

By the time we were running alongside Macha, the Kelpies had steam puffing from their nostrils and sweat slicking their skin. The city’s buildings and taverns turned into miles of forest on either side of the dirt road we raced down. Sitting back in my saddle, I casted a look at the dark forest that whizzed by in a smearing blur. Tightening my grip on the reins, I chanced a glance back to see the others following closely. A cloud of dirt kicked up from the Kelpies hooves leaving a thin wall between us and the city we had just left behind.

“Halt!”

Jerking my head forward, I yanked back on the reins signaling the Kelpie to stop its sprint. He kept pace for a few feet before stopping and stomping foot to foot as the adrenaline urged him to continue moving. Nudging him to turn, I caught sight of Macha’s Kelpie prancing around a few feet to my left. While her horse danced beneath her, her eyes stayed trained up at the sky above me. Following her line of sight, I saw what had caught her attention so completely. A thin trail of smoke rose out from the dark tree tops to mar the inky night sky.

“Tell me, Acolyte. Who do you know that’d be so brave as to let their location be known in this forest?”

Dropping my gaze back to hers, I shook my head despite already knowing where we’d be heading next.

Blue eyes flashing in mirth, she gripped the reins of her Kelpie and nudged her forward. As they trotted past, Macha trailed the tips of her fingers across my thigh, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

—-

Attention, Attention. The sexual tension in this book is officially ASTRONOMICAL🌌!!

Lmaooo. Y’all I’m really enjoying these Kelpies 😂. That glimpse of Macha God side though? Things are heating up! In more ways than one!

As always, feel free your comment your thoughts on the chapter!

Smooches, Verbage💋

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