Author's note: Thanks for the reviews and ideas. And in the effort to not give anything away, some of you will get what you asked for. ;)
Just as a warning, this chapter does have sex, violence and some plot, so be prepared. Sorry, if that isn't your cup of tee.
Chapter 5
"I couldn't wait," I murmured before claiming her lips with my own.
Regina moaned into the kiss, her hands wrapping around me, pressing our bodies together. I broke the kiss to trail kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Heat flooded me and my mind began to cloud over with the taste of her skin on my lips. I ran one hand up the toned planes of her stomach to massage a breast through the fabric of her dress. She arched into me, letting me take the lead. I moved my mouth back to her lips and gently sank my teeth into her plump lower lip.
She groaned and her hands clenched reflexively tighter against my back. I pulled back; smiling at her and slowly began removing her clothing. She lost patience when her dress hit the floor and pulled my tunic over my head. After that, clothing fell around us in a blur until we both stood bare to each other. I hungrily devoured the perfect sight of Regina's body and noticed her doing the same to mine. I met her eyes and saw a possessive hunger in them that stole my breath. I lunged at her, moaning as our bodies collided, heated skin tingling from the contact. I thrust my tongue past her lips, dueling with her tongue for control.
As we kissed, my hands roamed her body, unable to get enough of the silky texture of her skin. One hand tangled into her hair, holding her mouth to mine as the other found one of her already stiff nipples and lightly pinched. Regina broke the kiss with a gasp. "Bed, now!" she demanded huskily.
I chuckled and backed her towards the mattress, lightly nipping the sensitive skin of her neck. I have no idea where my newfound confidence came from, but as I pushed her down onto the bed and crawled on top of her, I only knew that I wanted to touch and taste every inch of the beautiful woman below me. I kissed and licked my way up her body, drawing needy moans from her lips and tremors from her small frame. I paused when I reached her perfect breasts to lavish them with swirls of my tongue around each taught bud, before flicking them using just the tip of my tongue. Regina's hands fisted in my hair, holding my mouth to her chest and I sucked the nipple I was teasing deeply into my mouth. She bucked under me, letting out a long sensuous moan and a hungry growl rumbled from my throat in response. Her hands loosened slightly and I moved to the other breast, treating it to the same affection with similar results.
Temporarily satisfied, I continued my journey up her body, sucking lightly on the tender flesh of her collarbone. Regina whimpered and gasped out, "Please, Emma." I released her skin and looked up to meet desperate eyes. I claimed her mouth with my own and ran a hand up her leg to meet the wet heat of her dripping folds. Her thighs immediately fell apart, opening herself for my fingers. Instinctively, I knew what to do and confidently stroked my fingers along her fold, spreading the thick juices up to her clit. Regina's hips bucked up to meet my hand, pressing her sensitive bundle roughly against my fingers. She groaned and her head fell back onto her pillow. She was panting with need as she stared into my eyes, silently begging for more.
I could do nothing but obey the need I read in her eyes and I slipped two fingers into her slick channel. She moaned out my name and I began thrusting my fingers into her. Her hips rose to meet my thrusts and I could do nothing but watch the beauty that was my Queen coming undone in my arms. I thrust harder and deeper into her, my palm pressing against her clit with each thrust. I watched as her orgasm built within her and somehow knowing exactly the right moment, I curled my fingers within her. Her inner walls clamped down around my fingers, drawing me deeper into her heat. Her body shuddered and she cried out as her hot release washed over my hand. My thumb gently stroked her clit as she rode out the orgasm.
When her body relaxed underneath me, I slipped my fingers from her and brought them to my lips, tasting her for the first time. I moaned as the sweet, tangy flavor coated my tongue. Regina's eyes met mine with surprise. As she watched me clean her desire from my fingers, her eyes darkened again. With fluid grace, she switched our positions and I found myself on my back below her. She lowered her lips to mine and drank her own taste from my lips.
When she sat back, she asked, "Are you still sore from last night?"
"Yeah, a little," I admitted reluctantly.
She nodded as though she expected the answer, though I could see the disappointment in her eyes. "That's alright, dear. There are still plenty of ways for me to make you scream," she purred.
I shivered in anticipation and she smirked, leaning down to ghost her lips down my neck. I arched into her, wanting to feel more of her. She let out a chuckle and pressed her lips against the hollow at the base of my throat. I sighed and she began kissing her way down my heated flesh. She lingered over my breasts, teasing the peaks into stiff attention. I whimpered in response and she moved lower. She hesitated over my hip bones before sinking her teeth into first one then the other, drawing short needy cries from me as I jerked up to meet her.
When her mouth finally reached the place I needed her most, I was dripping with arousal and was so focused on her that the castle could have burned down around us and I wouldn't have noticed. As she licked up my soaked folds, her deep guttural moan reverberated through me and I cried out, "Oh, Gods, R'gina." She chuckled as she continued to lap up the evidence of my arousal. The vibrations of her laugh surged through me and I nearly came undone, crying out once again. She paused and I looked down to see her dark eyes focused on me. Her gaze didn't leave mine as she sucked my clit deep into her mouth and rapidly flicked it with the tip of her tongue. I immediately flew over the edge and screamed out my release. With soft licks, she brought me back down before she crawled up my body and kissed me deeply, sharing the taste of my release with me.
Sated for the time being, Regina lay down along my side, using my shoulder for her pillow as she draped an arm and leg possessively. I kissed her forehead and fell asleep, more content than I could ever remember being.
The next day brought another new development in my deepening bond with Regina. I had just finished my morning of training with Lucas and was headed back to the castle to wash before I joined my Queen for lunch. I was stopped by a guard I'd never seen before. I found out later that he had been stationed in another part of the kingdom and only recently returned to the castle.
He stepped into my path and said in a voice dripping with condescending disgust, "So, you're Snow White's slut of a daughter. What's your plan, bitch? Fuck the Queen to get close enough to her to kill her for your mother."
Insulted rage washed over me and I made a nearly fatal mistake. I stepped close enough to him to smell his fetid breath, but didn't actually touch him. "I am the Queen's Consort at her request and Snow White is nothing to me. Apologize and I will forget we ever had this conversation," I stated coldly.
He snorted and derisively said, "I won't apologize to some two-bit whore with delusions of power."
"I have no delusions. Now apologize or you won't survive long enough to face the Queen's wrath," I snarled.
He laughed menacingly, "You don't scare me, you little bitch."
I didn't think, I just reacted. He dodged my punch and before I could retaliate, white hot pain lanced my side. I staggered back a few steps, my hand automatically coming to my side. I glanced down and my hand came away covered in blood. I crashed to my knees and heard the faint voice of my Queen scream my name within my mind. The unknown guard advanced on me, obviously wanting to finish the kill, but before he could, purple smoke swirled between us and the Queen appeared. The guard stopped at the sight of the Queen and she quickly took in the situation. The second she saw the blood staining my tunic, insane fury consumed her.
Her attention snapped to the guard, focusing on the bloody knife in his hand. Before he could react, I felt the sharp pull of her tugging on my magic again as the grass around him grew to impossible lengths and wrapped around him. The sharp edges of the grass bit into his skin until thin rivulets of blood ran down his body. He struggled for a moment, but only served to cut himself deeper and he stilled.
The Queen turned back to me, the icy rage in her eyes drowned out any of the concern I knew she felt buried under the fury. My eyes flicked down and I gasped in surprise to see my own wound mirrored on the Queen's side. She glanced down and froze, her rage momentarily abated by the shock of seeing her own blood soaking her dress. Our eyes met reflecting our shared fears over what her injury meant. I reached out to put my hand over her wound, wanting to stop the blood flow. The movement pulled on the gash in my side and we both gasped. I immediately knew that she had felt it too. That knowledge propelled me forward, ignoring my own pain as I pulled heavily on my magic to heal her. A surprised grunt escaped her lips and I realized that I had inadvertently pulled on her magic through the bond. However, I didn't hesitate to gently place my hand over her side and push the warmth in my hands into my Queen. I gasped as I felt the healing magic pour into me as well, closing both wounds in seconds.
I shakily got to my feet and met my Queen's eyes. By unspoken agreement, we decided to worry about the new revelation later. As one, we turned to the bound guard and saw that we had drawn a large crowd of observers. Matching awed expressions were on their faces as they processed what they had seen. The Queen met their gazes impassively and they slowly knelt in respect for their Queen. She turned her attention back to my attacker and I felt her rage begin growing again. No longer distracted by my injury, I felt my own insulted fury returning.
"Why did you attack my consort, soldier?" The Queen demanded in a voice that was devoid of any emotions.
Before he could reply, I answered for him. "Your majesty, this man believes that as the daughter of your enemy, I have whored myself to you merely to lull you into a sense of security so that I may assassinate you when you are vulnerable," I snarled.
The Queen raised an eyebrow and coldly asked, "And was he correct in his assumptions?"
"No, my Queen. Aside from the fact that I would apparently be killing myself in the process, I did publicly renounce my heritage and swore fealty to you yesterday. I am no daughter to Snow White," I answered flatly.
"That is true, my dear Swan," the Queen replied and smirked in icy amusement. She narrowed her gaze at the bound man and said, "However, that does mean that you attempted to murder a member of this court, and unintentionally your Queen. That is treason."
His eyes filled with horror and he quickly shook his head. "I didn't know, my Queen. I never would have attacked her if I knew you would be hurt."
The Queen flicked her wrist and the man was silenced as an invisible hand closed around his throat, choking him. "Did you really believe that I wouldn't be hurt by the murder of my consort?" she asked.
The grip of her magic loosened enough for him to talk and he quickly explained, "No, your majesty, but I believed her to be a traitor and spy. I thought to protect you from her treachery."
"You are the traitor here," she screamed. I felt the tug of her pulling on my magic again, and stopped fighting the pull, allowing it to pass to her along our bond. The pressure in my chest loosened immediately and I filed the information away for later. As the pale violet smoke cleared, the guilty guard was securely fastened to a new whipping post and the Queen held a whip in her hand. She glanced at me when she noticed the color her magic had become and I nodded. She turned back to her prisoner and let the leather fly. Each stroke flayed open the skin on his back. His screams filled the air, and more people from the castle rushed to see what was happening. I watched impassively as my Queen worked. She did not stop until the man passed out. Then she turned to me and snarled, "Stop the bleeding, but heal him no further. I want to make an example of what happens when someone attempts to harm what is mine."
I bowed and said, "As you wish, my Queen." I calmly approached the unconscious man and letting my magic fill me, obeyed the Queen's orders.
As soon as I finished, I stepped back and the Queen turned to two other guards. "You two, take him to the dungeons. Don't let him die or you will take his place."
"Yes, your majesty," they replied before dragging the man into the castle.
"Come, Swan," she demanded imperiously. I fell into step with her as we walked back into the castle. Everyone we passed took notice of the fury still riding the Queen, eyes widening in response to the blood staining our clothes, and they quickly knelt, heads bowed until we had passed. I kept my chin level and stared straight ahead as we moved, taking in everything around us through my peripheral vision. I silently judged each person's expression and movements, on alert for any additional danger. Shock and fear were the only emotions I saw on the faces of the guards and servants we passed.
Once inside the castle, the Queen stepped into the first empty room and shut the door. Our combined magic flowed from her and sealed the room to prevent anyone else from entering. She turned to me and the Evil Queen mask fell away. Regina pulled me into her arms. "Gods, Emma. Are you alright?" she asked shakily.
"I'm OK, Regina. I made a mistake and didn't notice his knife in time. I won't make that mistake again," I said, angry with myself for my stupidity. "How are you?" I asked, running soothing hands down her back.
"I'm fine. I was so terrified when I felt you get wounded that I didn't even feel my own pain," she said, glancing down to where her blood stained the dress she wore.
"I know. I heard you scream my name," I said softly.
That surprised her and with wide, confused eyes, she asked, "What do you mean?"
I met her eyes, not understanding why she was confused. "After that bastard stabbed me, I heard you scream my name."
"Emma, I didn't scream," she insisted.
"But I heard you. Your voice echoed in my head just before you arrived," I said.
She gave me a startled look, but didn't press it. Instead, she pulled me into her, claiming my lips in a hard needy kiss. I groaned into the kiss, needing to feel her against me now that the danger had passed, and content to let our troubles wait until later. Her magic flowed around us and when I opened my eyes, I found myself lying naked in her bed with Regina gazing down at me with raw need shining in her eyes. Our mouths met again and I gasped as she slid two fingers inside me. As she began to thrust her fingers, I didn't give myself the time to be grateful that the discomfort from our first night together had passed. I could only think about the woman pressing into me and the need to be closer to her.
I reached down and shoved my own fingers into her. I matched the pace of her thrusts and we began rocking against each other. The air around us grew heavy as our magic rose with our desperate need. We plunged aggressively into each other and in seconds, we stiffened and shook with release. But neither of us stopped, both desperate to know the other was alive and safe. Our magic wrapped tightly around our thrusting bodies, filling our bodies and setting our nerve endings on fire with a delicious heat that only spurned us to push harder and deeper into each other. A second and then third orgasm crashed over us and still neither of us stopped and neither slowed; until, finally, with screams of pleasure filling the air, our magic pulsed out from us and we collapsed onto the mattress, gasping for air.
The throne room was already full when we entered half an hour later. It seemed that everyone who lived and worked in the castle was present. I stayed at the Queen's side as we crossed the room and climbed the steps to her throne. Every eye stayed focused on us and a tense silence fell over those gathered. The Queen remained standing, her face a deadly mask as she surveyed her people. I remained stoic, studying every face, looking for any sign of further betrayal.
When the tension in the room reached a breaking point, the Queen turned to Lucas and asked, "Has the prisoner awoken?"
"Yes, my Queen," he answered flatly.
"Very well, take the huntsman and bring the prisoner here," she ordered. Not waiting to see if they obeyed, she turned back to the room and addressed the rest of those present. "By now, most of you have probably heard some version of this morning's events. Know this; to speak of this to anyone outside of this room will be considered high treason. This morning, my Consort was accused of treachery and attacked by Guardsman Aaron Howard, and in doing so, he threatened your Queen's life. Guardsman Howard had no proof for his accusations, and his attack was unprovoked. For his crimes against the Queen's Consort alone, he would have been beheaded. However, his treason against Crown and Country demand he be made an example of."
No one moved or spoke while the Queen's voice filled the room. When her last words died away, a few people shifted uneasily. I finally spotted Lord Steven towards the back of the crowd. His eyes met mine for a second and I thought I saw a speculative look in them, but the distance was too great and I couldn't be certain. The uneasy silence stretched on as we all waited for the prisoner to arrive.
After what felt like hours, the main doors to the throne room opened and Lucas and the Huntsman dragged the struggling guard into the room. They stopped at the base of the stairs in front of the Queen and I and shoved the man to his knees. His eyes were wide with terror as he gazed up at the Queen, and even from where I stood, I could smell the stench of his fear rolling off him.
The Queen calmly studied him for a long moment before speaking. "Guardsman Howard, you have been charged with high treason, how do you plead?"
"Your majesty, I—it was a misunderstanding. I would—" he begged, but was cut off.
"Attempted murder is no misunderstanding!" The Queen snapped, icy rage filling her voice.
The guard looked away, unable to meet the Queen's gaze. "Please, I never meant to harm you, my Queen," he pleaded.
"But you did intend to kill my consort?" she said in a voice that made it a statement rather than a question.
"Yes, your majesty. I believed she would betray you to Snow White," he said.
"Based on what proof? The parents she has never known, which she renounced yesterday in front of the whole court?" the Queen scoffed.
"I was unaware that she had renounced them," he said quietly, curling in on himself as his hope for salvation fled.
"That is no excuse for your actions. You are found guilty," the Queen stated before turning to me. "Consort, you were the first party wronged by this man, do you wish to assist with his execution?"
I hesitated for a moment. I'd never intentionally spilled anyone's blood before, and the thought of doing it now made my stomach churn. But as I gazed into my Queen's eyes, I remembered the feeling of her blood, warm and wet as it coated my hand in those few seconds before my magic healed her. It was enough to drown out my hesitance and I gave a curt nod to my Queen. "Yes, your majesty," I stated.
"Very well, do as you wish, but do not kill him, my Swan," she said with an approving nod.
"Thank you, my Queen," I said, bowing to her before striding down the steps to stand in front of the condemned man. "Stand," I barked out. While Lucas and the Huntsman pulled him to his feet, I conjured the dagger he had used to stab me with. I studied it for a moment, taking note of my dried blood which still clung to the blade. I could feel his eyes on me, and I waited, letting his trepidation grow. When I felt he had waited long enough, I turned and stepped into him, sliding the dagger into his side. Before he could react, I pulled the blade free and stepped to his other side, quickly thrusting the dagger into him again, creating a second wound to mirror the two he had inflicted on Regina and I that morning. A pained cry spilled out and I stepped back, flicking my wrist to make the dagger disappear. I wiped my hand on the guard's shirt to clean the blood off, before returning to my Queen's side.
I met her eyes as I climbed the stairs back to her throne. Vicious approval and a hint of lust filled them and a dark thrill skittered down my spine. When I reached the top step, I softly kissed her cheek and murmured, "He's all yours, my Queen."
She chuckled darkly and softly said, "I may be a bad influence on you, dear."
I shrugged, and in a teasing voice said, "You like it."
She lifted an eyebrow in dark amusement before turning her attention to her victim. The Queen slowly stalked down the steps towards the man. Her magic surged towards him, freezing him in place. When the Huntsman and Lucas realized he couldn't move, they took several steps backward to give the Queen room. She raised a hand and squeezed her fingers into a fist. The sound of bones breaking filled the room a split second before the guard's screams drowned out the sound. The Queen had broken all of the bones in the hand he had used to stab me.
When the screams faded into pained gasps, the Queen repeated her actions on his other hand. While he screamed again, she conjured a branding iron and heated it over a fireball she held in her other hand. Once the metal glowed white hot, the Queen pressed the brand to his forehead, eliciting more screams from the guard. The stench of burning flesh filled my nostrils and I gagged, struggling not to vomit. I managed to keep myself under control, but the same could not be said for some people amongst the crowd.
The Queen pulled the brand away, revealing the word 'traitor' burned into the skin of the man's forehead. With a flick of her wrist, the branding iron disappeared. She stepped back to survey her work. Apparently satisfied, she waved a hand and her magic forced the guard to his hands and knees. He cried out as his weight landed on his broken hands. The Queen conjured a large axe poised above the man's neck. With an almost lazy gesture, the axe fell, beheading the guard.
"Mount that on the gate," the Queen demanded of Lucas, pointing to the head that landed at her feet.
"Yes, my Queen," he said, emotionlessly.
As she turned to leave, I hurried down the steps to join her. My thoughts and emotions were in turmoil and my stomach was still threatening to rebel, but I ignored it, knowing that my Queen needed my silent support in front of our audience. When I reached her side, I offered the Queen my arm. She looped her arm through mine and I escorted her from the throne room.
When the door swung shut behind us, shielding us from view, the Queen turned to me and asked, "Emma, are you alright? You're white as a ghost and you're trembling."
I swallowed hard and shook my head. "I—I've never—I'm sorry, Regina, but I need a little time," I said, feeling the bile rise in my throat. A hurt look flashed through her eyes, but I couldn't process it in that moment. I managed one last, "I'm sorry," before pulling on my magic and transporting myself to my suite.