The Empress' Rapture (14 page)

The man’s eyes turned red as his voice carried through the castle. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and gazed at Sierra.

We’ll be ready for you. Bring it on, asshole, and Jack will never touch me again!
Anger and fear coursed through her as she watched the enemy disappear from the battlefield along with the man and Jack.

Roman and Garth’s shouts of anger pierced the room. Warriors alike shouted their disappointment at not being able to finish the battle. Garth and Roman had already sent warriors to Tor’l Durahn’s compound to free the ones they held as prisoners. Sierra felt arms lift her up. Her mother and grandmother smiled, but she saw the fear in their gazes.

“It’s over, baby. We’ve won for now. You did so well. I am so proud of you,” Mary Ann mumbled as she hugged Sierra close. Her mother released her as Garth and Roman strode into the room, their attention on her.

Mary Ann stepped back in time for Roman to sweep Sierra into his sweaty, dirty arms, and Garth followed them out of the room. Guards trailed behind them as they made their way to their bedroom.

“You’re okay? You didn’t get hurt?” Sierra asked, searching his body with her hands and her mind. They reached their room, and Garth threw open the door. Roman followed him and slammed the door behind them. Roman laid her on their bed, and her clothes disappeared.

“What are you doing?” Sierra watched them circle the bed. They paced and glared at her. Heat formed in their eyes. Unseen hands flipped her onto her stomach, her arms and legs magically tied to the bed.

“What the hell?” Sierra yelled, but a ball gag was shoved into her mouth and secured. She couldn’t move or talk, but that didn’t stop her demands in their minds. Trying to use her magic against them didn’t work.
Take this thing out of my mouth this instant or you’ll regret it. I promise!

A paddle made contact with her backside. It stung worse than a hundred bee stings. Tears formed in her eyes, and her nether lips dampened. Another whack landed on her other cheek as Garth commanded, “You’ll not put yourself in harm’s way again. Is that clear? If we tell you to stay put, you’ll stay put!” Sierra’s ass burned as four more whacks landed on it. The strikes stopped, and her eyes closed, but tears ran down her face. She felt a soft hand of love on her face. One of her mates wiped the tears.

“You’ll stay in this room until we return. We’ll go make sure everyone is okay and at their assigned posts. We’re warning you, Sierra, do not leave this room. You know this war isn’t over.” He sighed. “We’ll not be so easy on you next time,” he added and disappeared from the room as did her restraints and ball gag.

She couldn’t believe what they’d done to her! She couldn’t just sit here. Slowly, she got up. Concentrating, she wished for a dress. The dress covered her body as she moved around the room. She knew her butt would bruise. Her mates had no idea her skin was super sensitive. The last time she’d gotten her butt spanked from her father her skin had swelled and had been black and blue for days. After he’d found out, the spankings had stopped and she was grounded to her room, locked in it. She sought out Amy and Jean with her mind. No one would hear her as she blocked her mates and everyone else from her mind.

Amy, Jean, could you meet me in my room? Don’t let anyone know you’re coming, please.
Sierra knew they wouldn’t be able to reply, but she saw their movements as they moved towards her. Chandler would be watching Jean’s every move, so Sierra knew she’d be extra careful. Now she had to work around the guards. As soon as her friends were out of sight of everyone including the guards, she transported them to her suite.

“Wow, that was great! Wait, why is your face all swollen? Were you crying?” Amy asked.

“That’s not important. I need a break. I know it’s early in the morning and you guys are probably tired, but I was wondering if you wanted…maybe, we could go to your bar, just the three of us. I need a drink and music. What do you say?” Sierra begged her friends.

“Well, I don’t know about Amy, but I need a break too. Chandler is driving me crazy with his demands! Do you know he forbid me to leave my room?” Jean threw up her arms, pacing the room.

“A break would be great!” Amy laughed.

“Don’t worry, I’ve blocked everyone. They can’t hear us, and Chandler can’t read your thoughts. That is one good thing about all of this Queen stuff.” Sierra laughed then moaned as her butt brushed up against the dresser.

“You’re hurt,” Amy said and walked around her, trying to see what was wrong.

She lifted the edge of her dress and snarled. “What the hell happened?”

“If you must know…” Sierra’s eyes watered with fresh tears. The fact that she’d fought by her mates’ sides wasn’t good enough. She quashed the onset of tears before they had a chance to fall. She could only assume they thoroughly enjoyed punishing her. “My mates decided I needed to be punished since I disobeyed them by helping them with our problem. You know how I bruise easy. Well…I’m a little sore that’s all.” Sierra sighed and stepped away from Amy.

“Why those pompous asses! You destroyed that freak and shifted the tide to our favor. Okay, let’s go. I can see you need a drink, and I don’t care if I get grounded for life. This is too much!” Amy yelled.

Sierra noticed Jean’s face turn red and knew she was furious too. Sierra transported them all to the bar. It was empty and dark. She snapped her fingers, and the lights came on low, the jukebox started to play her favorite song.

“God, I could get used to this. All you do is snap your fingers and you have what you want.” Amy gathered a whiskey bottle and three beers. She poured three shots and toasted Sierra. “Here’s to the Queen of the Fey. Sierra, who is a true friend and sister.” Amy gulped her shot down, chasing it with a drink of beer.

“Hear, hear.” Seconds later, Sierra and Jean followed suit.

Sierra poured another shot and held it up. “Here is to you grandmother I wish you were here.” She gulped down the shot. The room quieted down for a minute as all of them gave her grandmother a moment of silence.

“You know, they’ll find us eventually, and then we will have hell to pay.” Jean gulped back another shot of whiskey breaking the silence.

“Yeah, I know they’ll find us, but we can celebrate for a while,” Sierra said. The liquid burned a path to her gut.

“They’re busy now making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. You should be celebrating anyway. You’ll see your father soon. From what I hear, they have already found him and are giving him medical attention.” Amy hugged her new friend and stepped back, taking another drink of beer.

“Yes, but he doesn’t want to see me. Chandler told me he asked for me to wait till he gets his strength back.” Jean started to dance to the music.

“I can understand that, he doesn’t want you to see him weak. Give him time, Jean. At least he’s alive. Hey, let’s dance to “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” I love that song.” Sierra played the song on the jukebox. The three of them formed their line, waiting for the song to start.

Chapter Eighteen

Sierra jumped at the same time as Jean and Amy. She turned to see Roman, Garth, Chandler, and Amy’s father, who glared at them as the men clapped when they finished their dance.

“Did you have fun while we searched for you?” Roman snapped.

“Did you enjoy your drinks while every Fey around is looking for their Queen, not knowing if one of our enemies abducted you? You know Jack is out there waiting to grab you, yet you do this stupid thing,” Garth roared.

Chandler grabbed Jean as Amy’s father grabbed Amy. They disappeared, leaving Sierra alone with her two husbands.

“If you call five minutes missing, then yes. I just wish it was longer so the alcohol could have dulled the pain,” Sierra calmly stated and strode to the bar, grabbing the whiskey bottle. She poured herself another shot and downed it.

“Are you that self-centered that you didn’t even consider our people before you left?” Roman’s calm demeanor proved to be a fallacy when his large hands turned to paws. Sierra knew how enraged he was. His gaze couldn’t keep it secret. “Not to mention that we told you to stay put. No, we
demanded
that you stay put,” he yelled.

Sierra grabbed the shot glass and threw it at Roman’s head. He ducked. She grabbed the whiskey bottle to throw it, but Garth pulled on her hands, swinging her around. His leg tripped her, and she landed on the floor with a thump. Before Sierra could move Garth pinned her down with his weight.

With her backside burning, she screamed, “Fuck! Get off me now, you jackass!” Tears of pain rolled down her face. Not caring what either man thought, she kicked and fought Garth, but he didn’t move. To her dismay, Roman joined him and held her arms down as they flipped her onto her stomach. Garth pulled her dress up and gasped, “What the fuck happened? You’re hurt!”

“No shit!” Sierra rasped. Pain racked her body. Garth rose and lifted her up into his arms. He transported them back to their bedroom where he lay her face down on the bed. Naked, her arms tied to the bedposts again, she didn’t say anything and waited to feel the paddle, but it didn’t come. A cool gel soothed her behind.

Sierra waited for their next move, but nothing came. The room held an eerie silence. She knew she couldn’t release the bonds that held her arms. She had tried twice with her magic earlier, but nothing had happened. She was there until they decided to release her. They now knew how to control her powers.

Time drifted by. She didn’t know how long she lay there drifting in and out of sleep. It wasn’t until she heard her mother’s gasp behind her that she confirmed what she believed. She untied Sierra and helped her stand. Her arms tingled from being tied all night and her legs wobbled.

“I’ve brought you breakfast,” Mary Ann said. “Your grandmother’s funeral is in about an hour. Roman and Garth thought you should eat before the service. Your dress is laid out in the other room.” Her mother left the suite.

Sierra took one of the bananas from the plate and walked to the balcony. She stood gazing down at the gardens below. People moved in and out of the gardens getting ready for the Queen’s funeral. But her mind kept going over the evening before knowing now everyone in this realm knew what she had done and it seemed everyone was pissed at her for her stupid actions. Sighing, she knew she needed to face her problems and strolled to the other room to take a shower.

Tears flowed down her face. Sobs racked her body as the hot water poured over her.

Roman and Garth ignored her. They wouldn’t even speak to her through their bond. Sierra finished her shower and stepped into the bedroom. With a thought, she created a dress that covered her body. Sitting down carefully, Sierra’s gaze lifted to her bedroom door when a soft tap drew her attention. She turned hopeful eyes towards the doorway, but saw neither Roman nor Garth. Her father stepped into the room instead.

“I’ve come to take you to the service. Your mates will meet you there.” With his voice stiff and full of anger, he barely glanced at her.

With her head down, she moved towards her father. “I’m sorry I worried everyone, Dad. What I did was wrong, I know this, but I was punished for helping. Grandmother wanted me to help, so I did.”

“I understand what you did to help, but your actions afterward were wrong and childish. You should have known better. You’re Queen now and you have thousands under your command. You gave no thought to them, only of yourself. I’m disappointed in you as is the rest of your family. Let’s go. It’s time.”

Sierra moved down the hallway with guards all around her. She didn’t know what to do. She’d fucked up big time.

* * * *

Sierra stared out at all of the people who had come to the funeral. There were at least ten thousand Fey and all the different species waiting for her first words as Queen. Her mates stood dutifully by her side, but offered no comfort.

Tears ran down her face as she stated, “My people, we come together today to say goodbye to my grandmother and your former Queen. I only knew my grandmother for a short period, but it felt like a lifetime. She trusted me to be your Queen and gave you guidance when you needed it. However, she believed I could help protect you with my powers. I have tried to do what is best, but I must apologize for my recent behavior. I have no excuses for making you all worry about your Queen’s absence. I can only say that everything just caught up with me at once. Still, it is no excuse. Therefore, I beg your forgiveness. I know I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, but I’ll try not to make the same mistakes again. My grandmother is shaking her head at me right now, laughing at me, rolling her eyes, and asking what she’s going to do with her granddaughter. She is with us, in the fragrant flowers, the lush green trees, even the dirt we stand on. She loved her people. I can feel her in me now, smiling at everyone. Grandfather, she loved you and told me to tell you she will see you soon. Thank you…all of you…for coming, and again, I am sorry.”

Sierra stepped down from the podium and moved towards the platform where her grandmother was displayed. She placed a kiss on her cheek saying, “I am sorry I let you down, Grandmother. I love you and miss you.” Sierra didn’t stop for anyone as they took her grandmother’s coffin and placed it into the grave.

She quietly strolled back to her room with her guards in tow, her mates remaining behind. They didn’t say a word to her as she left. She entered her room, closed the door, and fell on the bed. Tears dampened her pillow, and her heart broke as she lay there on the bed staring up at the ceiling.

Sleep finally claimed her as grief consumed her.

* * * *

Sierra woke in bed alone and naked. Her mates had taken her clothes off of her but still did not join her in their bed. It was 5:00 a.m. as she rolled onto her side and looked at the clock. She’d slept all night. Deciding she needed some time alone, she got up and slipped on a mini skirt and halter, leaving off her shoes. Opening her door, the guards came to attention. “I’m going to spend some time at my grandmother’s grave,” she said and stepped past the guards, heading towards the door to the family plot. The fresh air smelled of all different flowers as she moved through the gardens. The sun was starting to break over the horizon as she approached her grandmother’s grave.