Everealm: Book One of the Everealm Series Read online

  However, when Dagan opened the door to his grandfather’s study, he was surprised to find the large wooden table in the middle of the room had miraculously been cleared. The books were now neatly organized on the shelves with not a single bit of dust on them. On the table instead, was a large piece of parchment. Dagan immediately began to panic as he leaned over the table to read the parchment. Sidonie stayed in the doorway. She could sense that something was wrong.

  Dagan read the message quietly to himself. His grandfather spoke of the joy he had felt over getting reacquainted with Dagan, and the fact that he had lived to see Dagan find his soul mate. Then he went on to encourage Dagan to remain loyal to Junacave, saying that, “family is sometimes found in the last place you expect it”, and finished up the message by bidding farewell to his grandson and wishing him happiness.

  Next to the message was an old key, which Dagan recognized as the key to the wizard tower he was standing in. The tower was now his, along with his grandfather’s vast collection of spell books, history books, potions, and the like. A small tear ran down Dagan’s face as he realized that his grandfather was gone. His heart began to ache. Elric was the last of Dagan’s family. His mother was dead, his father was nowhere to be found, and now his grandfather was gone. Feeling alone and empty, the regret of leaving his grandfather alone for five years weighed heavy on him.

  He heard Sidonie step into the room.

  “Has he gone?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Will he return?”

  “No.”

  “I am so sorry Dagan. I know what it feels like to—“

  “I need to be alone,” Dagan interrupted. He didn’t turn around to look at her. Sidonie began to speak, to tell him that she understood his pain. That she could help him to get through this. But instead she walked out of the study and closed the door behind her.

  ~*~

  Dagan had stayed in the tower for the rest of the day. Sidonie paced back and forth in her room, waiting on Dagan to return to the guest wing, braiding then unbraiding her hair to pass the time. Finally, after everyone had already gone to sleep and the castle was quiet, Dagan returned to his room. Sidonie heard his door open and close behind him. She pulled her robe over her nightgown and grabbed a lit candle off her bedside table, then went down the hall to Dagan’s room.

  She rapped lightly on the door. He didn’t answer, so she knocked louder this time, then again. On the third knock, the door unlocked and opened just a little. Sidonie pushed it open a bit more, then snuck inside. The room was pitch dark, except for one torch, lit in the far corner of the room. She closed the door behind her, then heard Dagan snap his fingers, causing two more torches to light on two of the other walls in the room. She could now see Dagan slumped over in the same chair that she had sat in many weeks ago, waiting for him to finish speaking with Cicilly that night.

  Sidonie set the candle down on a table nearby, then walked over to Dagan. He had his head in his hands, but when she stepped closer to him, he wrapped his arms around her legs and laid his head on her stomach. She could feel his heart beating against her legs. She ran her hands over his head and through his hair, hoping the gentle strokes would comfort him.

  They stayed that way for some time, in a long embrace. Sidonie’s legs began to weaken from standing for so long, so she lowered herself onto her knees in front of him. She had barely gotten her head close to his when he pulled her in and kissed her, gently at first, then as the air began to buzz around them, the kisses became more passionate, more intense.

  All at once they were standing. Dagan wrapped his arms around her waist and backed her into the wooden bedpost. Sidonie reached her hands up above her head, to grip the post and steady herself as Dagan pulled her robe open and spread kisses all over her neck, stopping for a moment to suck on a spot on her collarbone. She would likely have a nice purple reminder in that same spot tomorrow morning.

  The room was still fairly dark, with just a few torches lit, but there was no need for light between them. Sidonie dropped her arms and shrugged off the robe, letting it fall to the floor. Then Dagan bent down to grab the bottom of her long nightgown, lifting the thin fabric slowly up her legs, over her hips, breasts, and finally her head. Once free of the gown, Sidonie shook her hair back into place and looked at him.

  His face was softer in the torchlight. His eyes, usually bright sapphire blue, were darker now, deeper. Sidonie ran a hand up his chest and began to untie his tunic. Luckily he wasn’t wearing his wizard robes tonight as those would be much more tedious to remove. She had his shirt off in a matter of moments. With that obstacle removed, there was only one left before they were both bare before each other for the first time. Knowing it would be difficult for her to accomplish in the dark, Dagan stripped himself of his trousers, then wasted no time before going back into her arms.

  Dagan lifted Sidonie onto the bed, gently laying her down on the soft quilts below. He started with her feet, scattering kisses along her toes, causing her to giggle. Then he slowly moved to her ankles, calves, and up to her thighs, his loose hair tickling her as his head slid up her body. When he reached her chest, he paused, looking down at her, the candle next to the bed shining a gentle light on her body. For a girl who grew up in the wilderness, she looked so soft, so delicate, and so divine. Her long brown hair was spread out on the bed around her.

  Sidonie lifted her hands to Dagan’s head, bringing him back down to her. He immediately found her breasts, taking one nipple into his mouth, while gently pinching the other, causing it to harden under his fingers. His hand left her breast and traveled below, to the warm spot between her legs as his mouth found her other breast. Dagan lifted his face above hers. For a moment, Sidonie thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he whispered, “You first,” and suddenly the hand between her legs found her clitoris, rubbing hard and quick.

  Her breath caught in her throat as she arched her back up off of the bed. Dagan’s hand was going wild between her legs, putting pressure down on her as he rubbed rapidly. Sidonie closed her eyes and tried to focus on the way he was making her body feel, pushing out all worries about her sister, or her magic, or the realm. All she wanted to focus on was him. This new glorious light in her life that made her feel like the most important woman in all the land. As her hands clung to the quilt, a tickle started to form inside her, slowly creeping up, getting warmer and stronger. Finally, the heat exploded causing sounds to escape her lips that she had never heard before.

  Her entire body shook from the sheer pleasure that had taken over. She felt so alive, so amazing, and so much like a woman.

  Unable to resist any longer, Dagan moved his body between her legs and spread her open, the heat from her climax still radiating out of her. He grabbed himself, rock hard and aching and drove into her. The tiny squeal she made was music to Dagan’s ears. The rhythm came easily as they fit together like a dream, starting slowly then picking up speed as the air around them went wild, buzzing with energy. Dagan could feel the magic in his blood starting to boil over, the heat so intense he thought it would catch his skin on fire. Sidonie must have felt it too, because she began to moan louder, running her hands over her chest and stomach, amazed at this feeling. It was otherworldly. She reached up and gripped Dagan’s shoulders, holding on for the ride.

  When she realized Dagan was close to reaching climax, she took one of her hands off of his shoulder and lifted his head up so their eyes could meet. “It’s your turn,” she breathed. They stayed there, with their eyes locked on each other as Dagan let go of his control and poured himself, his magic, and his soul into her. Feathers from a pillow he didn’t realize he was gripping exploded around them, floating in the air, landing all over the bed as Dagan collapsed into her arms.

  “Stay,” he breathed, barely able to speak.

  “Always,” she replied, then closed her eyes and smiled.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dahlia was glad to be on assignment again bu
t less pleased at her appearance for this task. Dressed as a kitchen maid, her blouse and skirts were worn and her apron smelled like onions and garlic. Her hair was a dull brown color and her face left something to be desired. However, this was the disguise required for the task at hand. She was sent to lace the Queen Mother’s drink.

  Silas had been in such a fabulous mood since Dahlia’s return to Sire, having been able to visit the woman he called his “one true love” in her dreams, for several weeks. However, suddenly two nights ago, the magic spell that Larkin had been using to allow Silas to dreamwalk had stopped working on the Queen Mother. It seemed the woman had stopped dreaming.

  Silas was furious, ordering Larkin to find a way to open her mind again, to cause her to dream. Unfortunately, the only way to do so would be to give the woman a potion that would counteract whatever measures she was using to stop her dreams. That meant Dahlia would need to find a way to administer the potion to the Queen Mother, secretly. And that was how she came to be back in Junacave, under the guise of a kitchen maid, and not a popular one at that. The girl she had chosen to become was currently paralyzed by use of a different potion, and hidden in the back of a wagon in the stables. Although her father insisted that Dahlia kill the pawn, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  Hearing her temporary name being called, Dahlia walked into the kitchens and began her assignment. Before the day was over, her father would be happy once more, no matter what it required.

  ~*~

  Cicilly found herself on a beach at the coast. The sand was warm under her feet and she wiggled her toes in it, enjoying how it felt. This was so different than the dirt she was used to. Looking out over the water, she could hear the waves crashing around her, and smell the raw saltiness of the ocean. The wind was a cool contrast to the warm sand as it blew over her bare body, her hair whipping all around her. For the beginning of winter, this was a most spectacular place to be.

  “Come, my love,” she heard Silas say from behind her. She turned around to find a large plush bed, sitting on the beach, surrounded by the sand. The white and yellow canopy curtains were blowing in the breeze. Silas was sitting naked on the bed, beckoning her toward him. When she reached him, he held out a hand and pulled her onto the bed.

  Immediately his hands and mouth were all over her body, ravishing her like no one had ever done before. Making love to Frederick had been sweet and lovely, even heated at times. But with Silas the feeling was wild and exhilarating as he worshipped her body, whispering dirty phrases in her ears.

  When he decided to stop teasing her, he rolled her over, onto his lap and sat her down on him, stiff and rough. He held her hips as she rode him hard, gasping and panting. The pain and pleasure mingled together until Cicilly couldn’t tell them apart. It was petrifying bliss. As he began to reach the pinnacle of his climax, he flipped her backwards onto the bed, so that he was on top of her and she could see nothing but him, gripping her arms so hard she thought he would break them.

  Cicilly looked up at the man she despised more than anything, watching as he filled her with his evil seed.

  Then she woke up, screaming.

  Cicilly jumped out of bed just as Nick burst through the door to her chambers with two other guards, terrified that she was hurt. He had been doing one last round throughout the castle before turning in for the night when he heard her screams from down the hallway. Cicilly was mad with rage, pulling at her hair and screaming. He tried to calm her down, holding her arms so she couldn’t continue to hurt herself.

  Looking down at her arms, Nick froze. There were dark bruises, large ones, just above her wrists. He let go of her immediately and ordered the guards to leave the room.

  “Cici, where did these come from? Did someone hurt you?”

  Cicilly stared at the bruises, unable to believe it, then she reached down over her nightgown to touch herself between her legs, which was hot and sore. It had been real this time. The sex with Silas had been real. She wanted to faint. She wanted to cry.

  “Cici!” Nick’s voice was shaking. Cicilly had been alone. There was no one else in her room. And unless Cicilly had magically grown man sized hands, there was no way she could have made the marks herself.

  “Mother, are you alright?” Bree rushed into the room. Her chambers were just down the hall from her mother’s, whose screams had woken her.

  Cicilly nodded her head, turning to her daughter. “Yes, yes, dear. It was only a dream” she lied.

  “But you’re shaking, Mother, and pale as a ghost!”

  “I am quite fine, dear. I am fine, now,” she repeated as she looked up at Nick, still standing in front of her. “Please, go back to bed.”

  “But—,” Bree began but was interrupted when Cicilly turned to Rowan, who was standing in the doorway.

  “Rowan, would you please escort my daughter back to her chambers?”

  Rowan waited until Nick turned to him and nodded. Then he entered the room, taking Bree by the arm and nudging her out, closing the door gently behind them.

  “Nick, I need to tell you something,” Cicilly looked up at him. Then she started from the beginning and told him everything, sparing no gory detail. When she was finished, she made Nick swear we wouldn’t tell anyone. Then she cried in his arms.

  “You’re cold, Cici. Let’s get you back to bed.” He could feel her shivering next to the cold metal breastplate of his armor.

  “No!” Cicilly cried. “What if I go back there, Nick? Please don’t leave me alone with him.”

  “Shhhh… It’ll be fine. I will stay here. Right over there,” he pointed to a chair across the room. “If anything happens, I will be here.”

  “But you haven’t gotten any sleep, Nick. I can’t possibly ask you to stay awake all night.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Cici,” Nick said as he reached over and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I will manage just fine.”

  Realizing how close the two of them were, Nick backed away quickly, clearing his throat. What am I doing? It has only been half a year since her husband died, who had been my king and my best friend.

  “Try to rest, Cicilly,” he said, trying to regain his composure. “I will be here, er—there,” he pointed to the chair, “if you need me.”

  Cicilly got back into her bed, turned away from where Nick was sitting and smiled to herself. Then she fell into a peaceful sleep and stayed that way until morning.

  ~*~

  “She’s here.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t see her,” Dagan replied.

  “Yes, I’m sure. See that white dot coming over the horizon?”

  Dagan had to squint hard to see it. “You have amazing vision, Sid.”

  “I didn’t before, actually. My senses have been improving, changing, ever since my magic began to develop. I still don’t understand it.”

  Dagan didn’t understand it either. Never before had he heard of someone receiving their magic later in life. Everyone else with magic was born with it, having always shown signs. There were some born with no magic at all, but none of them had ever mysteriously gained it. Dagan’s own mother had only been able to use magic because of her amulet and that magic was limited to allowing her to find her soul mate. Once the magic ran out, it was over. She never actually absorbed the magic. Sidonie’s situation was rather confusing, and for the past week the two of them had poured over the books in the study, trying to find some clue as to why this was happening.

  Sidonie left the gatehouse tower, where she had been watching for her sister and entered the courtyard just before Adelphie reached the gate.

  “Adelphie! I am so happy to see you!” Sidonie rushed over to hug her sister, followed by Bree.

  “Step back and let me get a look at you,” Adelphie said as Sidonie gave a quick turn in her gown. “Wow, Sid. You look so different! And it isn’t just the dress. Something else has changed.”

  Sidonie held her breath and her eyes darted to Bree,
who was trying to maintain her smile, to hide the panic that she was feeling.

  “Well, perhaps I am gaining,” Sidonie forced a laugh while pinching her stomach. “I haven’t eaten this much food. Ever.”

  “No, no. It’s something else,” Adelphie continued, thoughtfully. “But whatever it is, you look simply radiant, sister.”

  Adelphie turned to Bree and did a quick bow. “I am grateful for your hospitality, Your Majesty. And thank you, again, for allowing my sister to stay.”

  “Oh, there is no need to thank me, Adelphie. Your sister has been fantastic company. I am so happy you are able to join us. Sidonie will show you to your room in the guest wing. I have put you in the first room of the wing, which has the best view of the kingdom.” And is the furthest I could put you from Dagan’s room, she thought.

  “Once you have settled in,” Bree continued. “I will send someone to escort you to the village seamstress, to begin preparations for your gown. It could take some time to sew together, so I think it’s best to get started as soon as possible. Then tonight, we will have a small feast in honor of your visit.”

  Adelphie thanked Bree again, and Sidonie led her from the courtyard and into the castle. Adelphie drew curious eyes as she walked through the castle corridors. She had tried to dress as conservative as possible for the trip, knowing that women did so in large kingdoms. It was winter, so she wore heavier fur, many from animals she had killed herself.

  Adelphie had been inside a castle before, though not this one. She thought it looked very similar, however, with tall stone walls, tapestries and rugs, and dozens of people swarming around. There were castle guards on the first floor though none of them spoke to her when she passed by. They just stood watch over the kingdom. How dreadfully boring, she thought. Standing there all day with nothing to do.

  The room the queen had chosen for Adelphie was perfect. The view from the window gave sight to vast rolling hills and forests. Though the trees were rather bare this time of year, the forest was still thick with brush. Adelphie turned to Sidonie, nodding in approval, as she shrugged the fur off of her shoulders.