Sorry it's been a while... There is no excuse... This is the official last chapter of this story! Although, I have plans to write a short epilogue which I hope to have finished in the next few weeks. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this story, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

His lips tasted of cigarettes and darkness. If darkness even had a taste, it would be Irial's lips. She tried to pull her wrists free, but his iron grip dug into her skin, making her bones ache.

All she could do was clench her eyes shut, trying her hardest to imagine she was not being violated by this monster, but instead being caressed by Keenan's loving lips.

Despite her best efforts, her mind was always being pulled back to this filthy alleyway. Irial's touch was always there, and there was no use in her trying to just endure it. She had to fight.

He wasn't restraining her legs, and while his tongue was busy stroking her lower lip, begging her for her admittance, she thrust her knee up to meet his groin, expecting him to buckle in pain and release her from his imprisonment.

He didn't even flinch. Instead he just stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes, a smirk planted on his smug face. She only stared wide-eyed back.

"You didn't really think I was that weak, did you, Aislinn?"

He moved too quickly for her to register his movements, but a split second later he had grabbed her hair by the nape of her neck and pulled her head back, forcing her to look up at him. Her knees buckled and she clung to his shirt, her fingers digging into the fabric.

Tears sprung to her eyes as he just continued to hold her tightly.

"I am going to overlook your sudden outburst," he sneered. He pulled her hair even tighter, and raised her face to hover only inches from his. "But do it again, and you will regret it." He clenched his fist which was entangled in her hair as he uttered the last syllable, causing her to whimper in pain.

She saw what these small sounds from her did to him. Violent want flared in his eyes and she saw glimpses of the menacing beast which lurked deep within him.

He pulled her head back to reveal her neck and inhaled her scent. She felt his tongue trace its way down her neck and flinched as she felt him suck and bite on her tender flesh.

She clamped her eyes shut, but they sprung open again in terror as she felt his hands snake their way across her chest to remove her shirt. By instinct, she inhaled deeply and screamed until her lunges almost caved in. Her screams didn't last long. He frowned at her and grabbed her by her throat. Her feet dangled slightly and she clung to his hand, desperately trying to free herself. Her scream had turned into nothing more than uncontrollable gasping. She felt her throat constrict and the edges of her vision blurred.

Just before she succumbed to the darkness that threatened to engulf her, she was let go and dropped down to the ground, slamming her elbow on the cold tarmac. She whimpered as the searing pain numbed her entire arm and she curled in on herself.

Their voices now seemed far away, and she tried her best to decipher them.

"Feisty one, isn't she?" She could identify the voice belonged to the one named 'Gabe'.

"She is indeed." A voice spoke, sounding humoured and at ease. A voice she was sure belonged to Irial.

"What are we going to do with her?" One of the two minions spoke.

"I'm not through with her yet. It just takes a little more... control."

She felt Irial step closer and he lowered himself to look down at her. Her eyes were closed, but she felt the presence of something dark near her body, and she felt the searing pain of something coiling itself around her limbs. She forced her eyes open and saw the shadows that had previously encircled Irial, were now winding themselves around her body, making her completely immobile.

They snaked around her ankles and wrists, and just as she was about to build up another scream, they wrapped themselves around her head to cover her mouth, silencing her pleas for mercy.

Irial stepped back to watch as the shadows shifted like smoke and lifted her off the ground, only to pin her to the brick wall behind her. The shadows encircling her ankles broke apart and spread her legs apart and pinned them to the wall, like shackles. Her arms were wielded to the wall behind her above her head.

However hard she struggled and tried to break free, he might as well have imprisoned her in iron shackles. She wasn't going anywhere.

Keenan sat on his bed. He sat hunched over, his elbows resting on his knees and his face buried in his hands.

He hadn't even noticed the silent tears of sunlight that trickled down his cheeks. The scent of Aislinn still lingered in the room, still lingered on his sheets.

He regretted telling her. He sprung it all on her at once. What the hell did he expect? For her to accept him with open arms? For her to promise eternity to him?

What a fool he was.

He hadn't followed her as she had left the loft. She needed time to think, and he respected that. He would let her come to terms with his reality before approaching her again.

However, he couldn't shake the awful feeling lurking in the back of his mind that something had happened. Something bad.

Even though she had not accepted his offer of joining his court, she was still his true Summer Queen, and they now shared a bond. He could feel a little piece of her inside him. And her piece was screaming for mercy. A flush of terror washed over him and stunned him. He sat completely still in the silence of his bedroom as he waited for the feeling to subside. Until he realized, that the terror wasn't his at all. It was Aislinn's.

He thought he could hear her screams of terror from a distance; her pleas for mercy and... his name...

He could have dismissed these feelings as just his imagination, just him making up excuses to go and see her. Yet his heart told him to run to her. Now.

He leapt off the bed and ran out of the loft at faery speed. He ran past their park and stopped at the crossroad which he knew led to her house. Just as he was about to turn to run down her street, he stopped. His senses told him to turn in the opposite direction. He seemed to be pulled towards the shady part of town, where brothels and dark alleyways loomed out of the thick darkness.

He decided to follow his instincts and started down the road, this time at a normal walking pace.

This was the part of town where Dark Fey liked to stalk out their prey. He and the Dark King were not the best of friends. They had been at silent war with each other for decades. Keenan had managed to keep him and his fey at bay for the time being, but The Dark Court was growing stronger.

Suddenly images of Aislinn being cornered by Dark Fey flashed before his eyes. He imagined Irial grabbing her hand and pulling her forcefully to his chest, and then Aislinn in a black, floor length dress. He imagined the shadows which encircled Irial stretched out to touch her skin. She didn't flinch away, but welcomed them and let them carress her skin in a disturbing manor.

He picked up the pace.

The dark road seemed to stretch out endlessly before him, and he had trouble seeing where it led, despite the few street lamps which were scattered along the sidewalk. The cold wind graced across his skin, but did not affect him. The sunlight in his soul kept him from shivering.

He glanced nervously side to side. He should have brought someone with him. The Summer King wandering through Dark Fey territory could not end well. He kept himself alert, trying to catch any movements within the shadows.

He thought he could see something flicker in the corner of his eye. He whipped around, ready to face just about anything. He imagined Dark Court fey ready to pounce on him.

Instead he was greeted by a small hovering ball of light. It reminded him of a miniature sun, big enough to fit in his palm. It glowed faintly and cast a faint golden light on its surroundings. It drifted gracefully to hover in front of Keenan's face. His eyebrows furrowed as he inspected the ball of light before him. Never before had he seen anything like it. It didn't look like anything he could summon with the use of his own powers. His powers were more... fiery. This was more peaceful and pure. Calm, in a way.

The ball of light suddenly started to move slowly forward. Keenan just stood watching it. After it had drifted a few feet forward, it stopped. Did it want him to follow it?

Keenan took one small step forward and watched as the glowing ball resumed drifting forward, leading him through the dangerous territory that stretched out before him.

He followed the shining beacon before him in awe and was so dazed by its presence, that only when it stopped moving did he hear the sounds. The sounds of abuse.

The shining ball of light had stopped by the entrance to a dark alleyway. He could make out three figures which all stood in silence, looking at something. He recognized them to be Dark Court fey.

He shifted his gaze to follow theirs. Only then did he see the horrendous scene unfolding before him. Even in the dim light, he could recognize Irial's side profile. He was panting and his brows were furrowed in deep concentration. His hands gripped something which was pressed against the brick wall... or rather someone.

He recognized her raven black hair, her slight frame. Her arms were bound above her head and her legs were forcefully spread apart.

Keenan felt his stomach do flips of terror as he almost fell to his knees in defeat.

There she was, being disgustingly violated by the Dark King himself.

His raven haired beauty.

Aislinn.

The cold brick walls sent chills down her spine. She felt so vulnerable and exposed as she was spread out before this monster, wearing only her bra and jeans.

He only smiled a crooked smile at her as he flicked his wrist ever so slightly, she wasn't sure if he even moved. At his soundless command, the shadows grazed over the waistband of her jeans and undid the button and fly.

She tried to wriggle her hips, tried to shake them off. Instead they only moved faster and soon enough she was wearing nothing but her underwear. She saw his eyes rake over her body, and she imagined all the scenes which were playing out in his mind. She imagined him plotting how to defile her the most, how to destroy her to such a degree that she eventually withered to nothing.

He now stepped just as close as he had stood earlier. His body was pressed up against hers. She hated how their bodies touched so intimately, just as she and Keenan had done only a few hours ago.

His hands raked over her entire body. They were everywhere; in her hair, on her hips, between her thighs, across her chest.

Although she could sense he was rough by nature, he moved his hands slowly as they cupped her breasts and squeezed them sensually. She felt herself arch her back, pressing her body even closer to his.

She felt that by letting her body respond to his stimulation, she was somehow giving him permission. She tried to tell him to stop, but her words were muffled to nothing but soft whimpers against the shadows which covered her lips.

He could hear her whimpers and stroked away her tears with his calloused hands. She felt his hot breath on her cheek as he spoke in a husky tone.

"You have nothing to fear. Your King is nothing compared to me."

She felt his hard manhood press up against her core, and she couldn't help but grind her hips ever so slightly, however much she tried to still her feelings of desire. She had read somewhere that some women had orgasms while being raped. It was purely for scientific reasons, not because they were actually enjoying the rape.

This she repeated to herself over and over again as she felt the growing need for release grow in the pit of her stomach.

She felt his fingers thrust themselves forcefully down her pants and her moan was muffled by the restraining shadows. She squirmed beneath his touch, her hips moving to the rhythm of his fingers. She felt sick to her stomach over her own actions, but that feeling was quickly forgotten as she was sent spiralling into his dark abyss of pleasure.

She clamped her eyes shut, trying to imagine Keenan was the one standing before her.

This illusion quickly evaporated as she heard him moan and ask her in a smug voice.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

He added another finger to his stimulation and she thrashed her head around, trying to free herself from his touch.

He grabbed her jaw with his other, forcing her head to still. He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered menacingly.

"What do you think your precious King would have to say about that?"

She started to cry as she envisioned Keenan leaving her behind, thinking that she somehow asked for this, that she enjoyed this.

"Shh..." he murmured, drawing away from her face.

He removed his fingers from her core, only to draw them slowly to his mouth and carefully taste them. She felt sick to her stomach as she saw his eyes roll back in their sockets as he relished in her taste.

"Like summer wine..." he murmured to himself.

Aislinn looked away in disgrace, the mention of summer only reminding her of Keenan. She averted her gaze to the opening of the alleyway and her restrained breath hitched in her throat.

There he was. Her Summer King.

He was looking straight at her and he was clinging to the brick wall for support. Gabriel and the two minions had yet to notice him, and she hoped it would stay that way. She didn't want to see Keenan get hurt.

Unfortunately, she was too slow in averting her gaze away from Keenan, and Irial followed her gaze and saw the Summer King watching him force himself upon his Queen.

Even in the dim light, Irial could see the King's eyes were ablaze with rage, but he didn't back away from her.

Instead, without ever taking his eyes off the Summer King's, he traced his tongue along Aislinn's jaw line; from her chin to the nape of her neck, smirking as he sent painful and intruding trails of saliva across her skin.

This sent Keenan over the edge. He pounced from where he stood at lightning speed, Aislinn almost didn't catch it. His palms suddenly glowed as he ran and he pushed his hands outwards towards Gabe and the two minions, sending scorching light and fire towards them.

Aislinn could hear them howl in pain and the two minions fled from the alleyway, leaving only Gabriel left to defend his master.

She hardly recognized Keenan's voice as he spoke, his voice painted with uncontrollable rage.

"Let her go, Irial." He took a step closer, a new ball of fierce light growing in his hand. "Now."

Irial replied in a calm voice.

"Now, now, Keenan. You don't want to frighten your Queen." As Irial spoke, he traced his fingers across Aislinn's cheek, provoking Keenan even more.

Keenan grabbed Irial's hand that was stroking her cheek, releasing her from Irial's agonizing touch. She could see Keenan's knuckles turning white, as he squeezed Irial's wrist tightly.

Irial didn't even flinch.

"Now that I've got your attention..." Irial let his words hang in the air between them, and without uttering a single word, the shadows which had Aislinn chained to the wall evaporated. Aislinn fell to the cold asphalt beneath her, falling to a miserable heap on the ground by their feet.

Keenan tried to push past Irial to get to her side, but Irial stopped him.

"Not so fast."

The shadows which had held her captured now appeared out of thin air around Keenan's body.

Aislinn rasied herself to her elbows as she watched the horror in front of her unfold.

The shadows coiled around his neck and forced him to his knees. He grasped at them with his hands, trying to free himself of their iron grip Aislinn knew all too well, but they didn't budge. The ball of fierce power that he had held just a few moments ago had evaporated and Keenan was left powerless.

The shadows moved to entwine around the rest of his body, and just as she could see he was on the edge of consciousness, they released his neck. He gasped for the air he had been deprived of.

The shadows slithered across his skin and Aislinn watched in horror as they cut through his shirt and jeans, leaving strips of his skin bare. They continued to cut and she saw red, warm blood soak his clothes as the shadows carved their way through his beautiful tanned skin.

He squirmed miserably on the ground, gasping and crying out loudly in pain.

"Stop it!" she shouted, finding the strength to get on her feet. She ran to Keenan's side, frantically searching for a way to save him. She was his Queen, she had to have some powers. Anything!

Irial just stood over Keenan's body, smiling a crooked smile, and watched as Aislinn tried desperately to save the man she loved.

Sounds of pain spilled from Keenan's lips, even though she could see he tried so desperately to suppress them.

She couldn't stand to see him in pain, so she tried to grab the shadows with her bare hands. It was impossible. It was like trying to grab hold of thin air, yet they still cut deep welts into her palms. The pain of darkness seared her flesh and her blood trickled down her wrists and forearms. It made her sick to her stomach.

Irial only stood there, watching with great pleasure as his shadows tortured Keenan who lay helplessly on the ground.

Aislinn felt the rage bubble in the pit of her stomach and calmly raised herself to stand.

How dare he hurt someone she loved? How dare he make her so helpless and force her to watch her King suffer? And how could he... force himself on her?

She tried to focus all her anger towards one goal; making Irial suffer. She felt her blood flow to her head, making her cheeks flush. She focused desperately on directing her anger to one particular spot, and felt an odd warmth spread in the palms of her hands.

She looked down and was amazed to see that, like Keenan, she now had two balls of fierce light and energy hovering in the palms of her hands. Her skin was aglow and she felt like the sun; a shining beacon of power. She felt powerful and in control.

Even though she had never experienced such power before, she followed her instincts as she thrust her hands forward and together, spreading out her palms to face Irial. She saw that his eyes widened in astonishment, and perhaps... fear, before he was engulfed by her glowing light.

She had to shield her eyes from the intense glow, but could hear Irial's screams as she imagined his body being engulfed by her fierce sunlight.

The light faded and Irial was gone. She turned to Keenan's body and watched as the shadows slithered away, and seemed to seep into the ground beneath them.

She ran to his body and touched his cheek. His face was drained of colour and his hair was grimy. His body was covered in gashes, some quite deep. His skin was damp with sweat and she whispered his name softly, pleading for him to wake up.

Tears spilled quickly down her cheeks as she imagined the cruel possibility of him never waking up. She imagined never seeing his blue eyes again, never being embraced by him again.

She leaned down to brush her lips softly against his cheek.

"My King..." she whispered.

For he was her king. No matter how much she tried to deny it, he was. And she belonged to him. She belonged to his court. Even though a small part of her brain was convinced that she was not ready to become the leader of a fairy court, she knew she could do it, with Keenan by her side.

She loved him. And giving him up because she was afraid of the future, was too foolish for her to even comprehend.

She was so caught up in her epiphany that she only noticed Keenan stirring when he moved his hand to touch hers which rested on his cheek.

He smiled weakly up at her, his eyes ablaze once more.

"Aislinn..." he murmured.

She smiled through her tears, reassuring him that she was alright and for him not to say anything.

"I thought I had lost you..." he murmured, before unconsciousness claimed him, his hand still holding hers tightly, wanting so desperately for her to never leave.

Keenan lay on his bed back at the loft. His eyes were closed and his hair was stained with his blood.

The cuts and slashes on his glorious face had already started to heal and the blood had dried on his skin.

Somehow, Summer Fey had found both of them in the alleyway; Aislinn kneeling on the ground in only her underwear, with Keenan's head resting in her lap. Perhaps it was one of her newly discovered powers; being able to summon her court to her when in need.

They had carried Keenan back to the loft and offered to treat his wounds, but Aislinn denied them. She wanted to be the one to tend to him. She wanted to be the first one he set eyes on when he eventually woke.

Niall had carefully bandaged her hands; the pain from the cuts on her palms had quieted down to a dull ache. She now sat by Keenan's bedside, stroking his bronze locks away from his face, waiting for him to open his eyes.

He looked so fragile as he lay there, nothing like the King she always envisioned him as. He looked delicate and almost... human.

His brows furrowed and she could tell he was dreaming. Maybe he was even dreaming about her...

His hand which lay on his chest twitched and fidgeted slightly, as if he was trying to grab hold of something. She carefully touched his hand, lacing her fingers between his. He stirred.

"Aislinn..." he murmured, his eyes still closed, yet she knew he could almost sense her presence.

"I'm right here," she whispered, stroking his cheek softly.

He opened his eyes, their piercing teal blue always catching her by surprise.

"Aislinn." He repeated again, lifting his hand up to touch her hair slowly. As he did, he winced.

"Keenan, you're hurt." She said, pushing his hand back down on the bed, not wishing to cause him any more pain.

"I'm fine." He replied, his throat hoarse and a weak smile across his lips.

"No you're not." She lowered herself to her knees and leaned in closer to him, their noses only inches apart.

"Let me heal you, Keenan." He exhaled and closed his eyes, as if he was contemplating the matter. Like he even had a choice.

He only nodded weakly.

Aislinn removed his bloodstained and torn shirt from his body, trying to ignore how his face scrunched up in pain.

It was his chest which had the worst cuts. The gashes on his legs had almost healed completely, but the ones on his chest were stubborn, as if the darkness wouldn't release him.

She had no idea what she was doing, but by instinct she let her hands trail lightly over his chest. She tried to suppress the slight pleasure she felt as he shivered beneath her touch.

She focused on healing and thought about sunlight and warmth.

Slowly, but surely she felt a pleasurable warmth grow in the palms of her hand, yet fainter and more gentle than the power she had possessed in the alleyway.

She focused on channelling this sunlight away from her, and saw as the warm sunlight seeped into Keenan's body. As the first rays of sunshine seeped into his skin, she heard him gasp and his fingers clenched.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, startled and worried that she might be causing him pain.

"No," he gasped. "Keep going."

She concentrated on filling him with her own sunlight and couldn't take her eyes off him as she heard him moan in pleasure as she healed him.

She sensed the traces of darkness left inside him had evaporated and she slowly let her sunlight fade to nothing. His chest was now almost completely free of any signs of injury, except the occasional faint white scar where the deepest cuts were.

She bent down to kiss his marble chest gently before sitting back up on the chair next to his bed.

"Thank you." He whispered, trying to lift his arm to touch her face once more, this time freed of the pain.

She relished in the feel of his warm skin against her cheek.

"Is it always like that?" she asked, not wishing to elaborate.

He knew what she meant. He raised himself to rest on his elbow, despite Aislinn's protests that he should lay down.

"Does it always evoke those type of... feelings, you mean?"

She only nodded.

"Yes. Sunlight tends to do that. Especially now that summer's approaching."

She simply nodded her understanding, twisting and untwisting her fingers in her lap. She felt the need to explain herself, to apologize... and to tell him...

"I'm sorry I ran off like that," she said faintly. She didn't look at him as she continued to speak, for fear that she would forget her words if she looked into his eyes.

"I should have let you explain things to me. I should have listened."

She was so busy spilling her thoughts and worries that she didn't notice how Keenan sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, now facing her fully. She continued to look down.

"I was afraid I was going to lose you in that alleyway, Keenan. I was afraid I would lose myself. I was afraid I had missed out on spending eternity with you. Because, to be honest, I would want nothing more than-"

He cut her off in the middle of her apology speech by taking her chin between his index finger and thumb, forcing her to look at him and kissing her deeply.

She responded immediately. All the words she had planned to say had evaporated into nothing, and she was consumed and surrounded by nothing but Keenan.

He was everywhere.

And he was her everything.

She raised herself to stand and lean over him, guiding him to lie down on the bed behind him, their lips never parting.

This time she was the one in control, and she felt a rush of power as she lay on top of him, trying to press their bodies even closer together.

She suddenly became aware of his naked chest and felt a shiver of anticipation rush down her spine.

He raised his hands to rest on her hips as she knotted her fingers in his hair.

He broke away from their kiss, causing her to actually whimper for more.

He gazed into her eyes and asked her the question that was sure to change their lives forever.

"Aislinn." He said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Will you make me the happiest man alive, and become my Queen?"

He looked at her expectantly, and almost a little nervously, as if he was afraid that she would turn him down.

She already knew her answer. Even though she had only come to realize her decision in the alleyway, her heart had made up its own mind long before her conscious did.

"Yes, Keenan. A thousand times; yes."

He smiled his gleaming smile up at her as he crushed her lips to hers once more.

For she was his Queen. For now and for eternity.