Moonlight Crown_A Fantasy Reverse Harem Page 4

  “Everyone keeps telling me the council doesn’t make mistakes,” Dru said, wiping her eyes. “If that’s true, I’ve left my mother and my friends back home.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even get a say in all this.”

  “No Royal does,” he said. He took a seat next to her on the edge of the lake. He hadn’t been here in years but the air still smelled crisp and clean. Not like Shara where there were so many people coming and going. There was no space he could be alone to just feel it.

  “I’m not a royal. You know that better than any of these men here,” she said, meeting his gaze.

  Tac looked away. “It’s not my job to know anything.”

  “You’re right,” Dru said clearing her throat and wiping her eyes.

  Tac slid his gaze to her and watched her pull herself together. He hadn’t taken the time to look at her close. Her small frame was delicate, but he was sure she could be strong when she needed to be. Her hair was tied back in an intricate braid down her back, but small pieces of the blond locks poked out from her face. Her piercing blue eyes were the best part of her. The way they could see through him and his facade.

  “We should get back before Cole has a heart attack,” Dru said and Tac couldn’t help but crack a smile. She hadn’t been here long, but she already seemed to know Cole as well as he did.

  “Cole is a good man. He just likes to talk duty over anything else,” Tac said. He didn’t know why he felt like he had to say it. “He has a hard time with people.”

  “Like you,” she said.

  He met her gaze and smiled. “Yeah, we both have a lot of demons.”

  “I know,” she said.

  Tac stood and offered his hand. Dru took it and he helped her up. He could see how much taller he was than her. At least a foot if not more and she seemed so small compared to him. He felt like he could blow on her and she would break. He decided at that very moment he wouldn’t let her break.

  He’d break first.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Dru

  Dru glanced back at Fin and Ian behind them. Cole had once again placed her in Tac’s hands, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. He seemed to soften to her after their conversation last night, but she knew he was still a tough man. He wouldn’t be able to help himself.

  She felt his chest rise with a breath behind her and bit her lip. Everything inside of her was screaming for him to have his way. She had no idea where this was all coming from. To be attracted to these men was like lighting a match and sticking her in the middle of it all. It scared and excited her at the same time.

  Dru wasn’t a prude when it came to sex, but she’d never had feelings for more than one man. So far, she was having feelings for three of the four around her.

  “We should be there today,” Cole said from the front of the line.

  They rode for what seemed like hours as the plains gave way to sand and heat. Dru found herself pulling at her clothing it was so hot.

  Tac slid his cloak over the top of her to shield her from the sun. He made a grumbling noise before yelling at Cole. “Why didn’t you plan this part of the trip at night?” He shook his head. “It’s too hot for Dru.”

  “I’m fine,” she said pulling the cloak from over her.

  “It’s the shortest part of the journey,” Cole said. He handed her his flask. “Drink.”

  Dru took the metal flask from him and took a long sip. The water was cool, but not cold and felt good as it went into her body. She sighed and handed it back to Cole.

  “You should be okay for the remainder of this part of the journey,” he said before riding away.

  Dru shook her head as slight panic settled in. There was no way that little bit of water was going to be enough.

  Tac put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s from the Fae springs. A little goes a long way,” he said.

  She felt better, but still wondered what awaited her on the other side of this desert. She wondered if the outpost was manned or if these three men would be the only ones keeping her safe. He mind travelled to what she could do with that time. A smile crossed her face before she pushed the thought back and gripped the saddle.

  Tac laughed a little and she wondered if he could see into her thoughts. That would be embarrassing.

  Just as Cole had promised, the desert ended shortly and green grass once again covered the earth. Dru sighed with the smell of salt and sand. She knew this smell. It meant they were near an ocean. Sure, enough they crested a small mountain that overlooked the ocean.

  “This is the border of our lands,” Cole said with pride.

  “Well, it was,” Tac countered. “When we were at full strength, this was our border.”

  “What’s over there,” Dru said pointing to an island just out of sight.

  “It’s a friend,” Cole said.

  “Was, he’s probably in with the darkness now,” Fin said.

  “Maybe, but that’s none of our concern,” he said turning north. “The outpost is just ahead.”

  They didn’t ride another hour before they were standing in front of what must have been a grand outpost at one time.

  The walls were tall and made from rock and iron. There was a tower to each of the four corners and a courtyard in the center. To the back of the outpost was a small house with enough room for all of them to be comfortable and Dru hoped the walls would be something that would keep them safe.

  They made their way through the still intact gate and Fin jumped from his horse to close it behind them. Cole dismounted first and pulled his sword from his back.

  “There’s no one here,” Ian said.

  Cole turned to the others and nodded. “Dru, you need to go inside. The rest of us will secure this place.”

  “I should go with her, to make sure it’s safe and all,” Ian said.

  Cole sighed but motioned for him to join her.

  “That was smooth,” Dru said when Ian walked up to her.

  “Of course, dear,” he said without missing a beat.

  They walked into the little house and Dru looked around. It would need a lot of work to be useable. The floor was all there, but there were boards missing here and there from the wall. She bit her lip when she looked at them and then back to Ian.

  “What are we going to do about that?” She pointed to the missing boards and Ian laughed.

  “You want to keep nature out when you should be letting it in,” he sat on the dirt floor. “Are all humans like that?”

  “I thought you knew about humans,” she teased.

  “I only know about one and that one isn’t here.”

  “So, you have had a human lover before,” she said with a smile.

  “Before?” He cocked his head. “You make it seem like I’m going to have another one.”

  She glanced at the floor. Before she could say anything, Ian had pulled her to him and pinned her to the floor. His hands playfully grabbed her wrists and his knee was between her legs.

  “Cole wouldn’t like this,” she said breathlessly.

  “Cole doesn’t have to know,” he said, brushing his lips on her cheek.

  “What if he walks in,” she continued.

  “Then he can join the fun,” Ian said, sliding his hand under her shirt. He rested his hand on her side as he kissed her neck. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to her.

  She moaned as his lips met hers. She had never felt so alive than right then with Ian on a dirt floor in the middle of a war. It was an odd thought, but all she wanted was him right now.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Ian

  He pushed her hands above her head and held his weight on her. She was so beautiful and he wanted nothing more than to take her right then. Her whimpers drove him mad. He slid his hand to her breast and cupped it as he kissed down her neck.

  This woman was everything he wanted. She was strong in a way he’d never seen before and she was all too willing to become his. All he had to do was take her.

  Ian toyed with her nipple an
d she writhed against him. He pulled back long enough to look into her ice blue eyes and everything stopped. This wasn’t how he wanted this. No, he wanted all the time in the world to have her and this was too out in the open. Any of his friends could walk through the door and stop them.

  He smiled. He may not be able to be inside her right now, he could give her something for her troubles.

  Ian slid his hand down her body, stopping only to take in the curves of her. Her hips, her breasts. He travelled further down her body to her thighs, brushing his thumb over her swollen clit. She moaned in response and he pressed his lips over hers.

  He let his thumb tickle her clit as his fingers searched her. She grabbed his arms and pulled at the clothing he was wearing. He could have her if he wanted and that made this all the better. She closed her legs around his hand, but he persisted. She pressed her breasts against him and grabbed the ground with her free hand in frustration. Her eyes closed and she licked her lips. He thought he might lose it right there and say to hell with Cole. He could take her, all of her and no one would be able to stop him, but it’s not what he wanted. He wanted her to beg him for it. If she knew what she was missing, she would.

  His thumb rubbed the little nub harder and with more intent until she arched her back and almost screamed against his kiss. He felt her body go tense around him and then release around his fingers. He didn’t move, but lightly touched her clit with each shockwave of her orgasm.

  He kissed her neck and her ear before whispering. “Welcome to the Fae world.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Fin

  Fin watched as Ian walked from the little house Dru was in. He shook his head as the smile on his face gave him away. Ian was like that. He saw something he wanted and he would do anything to conquer it. Fin just hoped Cole didn’t find out otherwise they may need another warrior.

  He turned his gaze back to the shore around them. It was quite and getting dark. There was no sign anything was going to attack them, which made Fin feel better about this whole thing. He hated working for the castle. They had too many rules and too many things you couldn’t do. He didn’t do well with that.

  “How do things look over here,” Cole said walking up from the other side of the wall. They all connected and sometimes Fin forgot about that. He was too busy in his own head.

  “There seems to be no trouble,” Fin said with a smile. “Do you think it will stay that way?”

  “No, they will eventually figure out we’re here.”

  “Then what?”

  “Hope this little group is enough,” Cole said before walking back to the other side of the outpost.

  Fin shook his head. There was no way they were enough to stop a full force of darkness soldiers. Maybe a scouting party.

  He felt the goosebumps on his arms before he saw it. A shadow in the distance coming their way. He pulled his bow from his back and shot an arrow into the ground of the courtyard.

  Ian pulled his short swords and got in front of the small house. If they are going to attack, he would protect the Queen.

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  Stacey Thompson