Never without a protection detail, Adelphia is surrounded by a slew of males outfitted in all-black leather uniforms trimmed in teal – the same as the Cascadonian guards. Unlike the standard uniform for the Kingdom’s guards, these soldiers wear a pin above their left pectoral of the Lesdanas house emblem, distinguishing them as my mother’s personal guards. Hair pinned halfway up in braids intertwined with small teal sapphires, Queen Adelphia sits regally above the masses upon her majestic white mare. Garbed in a flowing white dress made of the finest silks with teal lace and beads sewn within, her neck, wrists, and ears drip with jewels in various shades of the same color. Visually striking, with her cool expression and imperious poise, her superiority drowns the onlookers as power and authority bleeds from her every pore.
Aerin, a male Air immortal with dark chocolate skin and brown eyes, wears a uniform of all-black leather – the same as I do – while standing silently beside Adelphia’s horse. I technically outrank the Air immortal, but seeing as he's the Captain of the Queen’s Guard and he’s been her protector since before I was born, my mother values his opinion over mine and often rules in his favor. Arrogant, brash, and cold as he is, we often bash heads over innumerable issues. But being that he’s never treated me differently due to the events leading to my conception, as well as his devout loyalty to the Queen, he has my begrudging respect.
Vigilant as ever, Aerin’s gaze sweeps the crowd for any threats before he steps forward to address those gathered. Advancing with blue glittering palms, he flicks a wrist and amplifies his voice with a gust of wind. “All hail Her Royal Majesty!” he thunders. “Queen Adelphia of House Lesdanas, Ruler of Cascadonia! Kneel before your Queen!”
As one, all those who are present lower to one knee, and we bow our heads.
One arm laid across my thigh, I stare unseeing at an orange topaz in the cobbled street, waiting for the Queen's customary order for all to rise. But only silence reigns as the time comes and goes.
“Kneel before your Queen!” Aerin repeats in a booming voice.
After another moment without the traditional “rise”, the sounds of ruffling clothing, shuffled movements, and quiet murmurs reach my ears, a pregnant pause engulfing the air.
Confused myself, my gaze wanders about while my head remains bowed, passing over cobblestones and jewels, Aurora’s soot covered apron draped over her leg, an apple core that was carelessly tossed away. But when I peek out of the corner of my right eye, my gaze catches on two small, leather-bound feet flattened against the street. Uneasy at the sight, I rotate my head in their direction and my stomach sinks upon inspection. Hoping I’m wrong but knowing full well that I’m not, I skim my eyes up toned legs clad in burgundy leather trousers, barely pausing at the patch of bare, golden skin, continuing onward past the large bust cinched in the laced leather vest, to where I finally land on the devastatingly beautiful face of Lena. The same Lena who’s not kneeling, but standing proudly as she boldly gazes at the Queen.
Fuck!
Hundreds of heads slowly begin to lift, confusion marring their faces until their expressions shift to shock at the sight of the lone human standing brazenly amongst the kneeled.
Adelphia’s horse trots sideways as she narrows her eyes at the defiant foreigner.
Snatching Lena’s elbow, I ignore the hum from our touch as I tug her towards me. “You're supposed to kneel.”
“I can see that.” A short errant lock slips past her ear to dangle between us. I itch to sweep it back, even in the face of my anger to her flippant response.
Boots clomp in our direction, rising in volume the nearer they get before a dark shadow casts over Lena. Still standing, Lena tugs her arm free to face the newcomer.
Standing only a few paces away, Aerin scrutinizes Lena from head to toe. “Kneel before the Queen.”
She smirks. “No.”
“No?” Aerin sputters.
“That's what I said.”
Aurora jumps up and bounds forward, but I snatch her arm midstep, dragging her back down beside me. “She's not from here,” she says to Aerin.“She doesn't know any better!” Turning toward Lena, her expression is earnest as she explains, “Lena, it's customary on our lands to kneel before your Queen.”
Lena arches a brow. “This is not my land, and she is not my Queen.”
My whole body stiffens, and Aurora's nails dig into my arms as the whole crowd sucks in a collective gasp.
“You insolent human,” Aerin snaps, stalking in Lena’s direction. “How dare you disrespect the Queen!” My hackles rise at his tone, but I bite back a growl when he stops a few feet away from her, fisting his hands at his sides and gritting his teeth. “Your words are traitorous.”
“Not traitorous,” Lena calmly states. “The truth.”
“Kneel,” he hisses, his dark face mottled in rage.
“No.” Undaunted, Lena’s expression is one of absolute boredom. “I kneel to no one. I will never kneel to another.” She taps her chin on a feigned thought. “Well, I shouldn't say never. If I manage to find a male who's able to give me multiple orgasms within a single bout, then I'll be more than happy to kneel.” Lena sweeps her gaze across the shocked crowd, chuckling. “But I'm sure all the males here can agree that it's rude not to reciprocate.”
Is she talking about… She can't be!
“Did she just say what I think she did?” Aurora squeaks my thoughts.
“If you mean, is she talking about sucking dick? Then yes,” Griffin says, scrubbing his mouth. “Yes, she did.”
“And orgasm. Don’t forget orgasm,” Kace adds helpfully.
“Oh my gods!” Aurora laughs, slapping a hand to her mouth.
Surveying the crowd, I find a few bowled over in laughter and some visibly stunned, but my heart gallops in my chest when I see more than half with varying shades of outrage directed towards the irreverent human. Eyes darting to Adelphia, my blood runs cold at the look of fury etched on her face, along with her flickering aquamarine and starlight jewels.
“If you won’t kneel,” Aerin seethes, stalking forward, “then I will force you to.”
Lena’s eyes hone in on Aerin's reaching hand. “If you so much as lay one finger on me, I'll break every bone in your fucking hand.”
Aerin jerks back, eyeing her warily as he unsheathes his dagger and signals to the Queen’s guards with a nod of his head.
I move without thought, summoning my flames without a command as I lunge for Aerin with a snarl. But I’m suddenly jerked back, Griffin’s arms banded around me to press me into his chest.
“Wait,” he whispers in my ear.
Unconcerned with the advancing guards, Lena’s eyes remain fixed on the Queen. “Is this how you rule your kingdom, Your Majesty?” she calls out loudly enough for everyone present to hear, but calm, authoritative. “Through fear and forced obedience?” She motions towards the Cascadonians silently watching and publicly challenges the legendary Queen, verbally passing her a noose with which to hang herself. “You arrest or kill anyone who speaks their mind?”
Adelphia’s composure implodes. Jewels near blinding and her face reddening into a murderous rage, her green-eyed glare shows every ounce of loathing she feels for the plebeian beneath her.
“Arrest her!” Aerin shouts. The Queen’s guards move as one towards Lena.
Neither Lena nor the Queen dare spare a glance at the approaching guards, the shouts of those calling for Lena’s death, or from those condemning the Queen. Both of them silently refuse to admit defeat by breaking their gaze from the other.
