Vexed: The Blood Court, #1

Acknowledgements:

As usual, we couldn’t do this without our amazing team:

Editor extraordinaire Chelly Peeler and Beta bitch Kayse Fabans. Without both of you in our corner we would never get anything done. We aren’t a huge group, but we are family.

Big ups to our reader group, and insane readers. Without you guys, Nymea and the boys wouldn’t be telling their story.

And huge thanks to our Patreon Jackie Fitzpatrick... Who kicks so much ass it isn’t even funny.

Dedication:

To you, Nymea, for allowing us to tell this story, with all its twists and turns and comic relief. We hope we do it justice.

Chapter One

It was said that time healed all wounds but for Nymea Blut, time did nothing but make the wounds fester until all she could feel was the pain and anger. For weeks she’d tried to push it down so she wouldn’t feel the loss of two of her guards. No, not loss. She didn’t lose them, they were taken from her. Taken from her in the worst way possible. Not on a battlefield, not even by protecting her, but by a selfish bitch who wanted to cripple her.

For the last few weeks her mind needed to be clear, emotions would have gotten in the way. Making sure Verity Salim of the Sleeping Court became their queen was more important than her breaking down. Emotions could wait until later. Unfortunately, later had come and the pain radiating in Nymea’s chest could no longer be ignored. Verity was queen and the woman who had a hand in Rocco and Wells’ deaths had been stripped of her title, lands, and fortune. It should be enough. It should, but it wasn’t.

Sitting down on the grass a few yards away from the stables, Mea drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. She’d only been back to her Sithen, nestled in French countryside, for less than a minute before she left her remaining guard. She knew the tears would come the moment she was home and breaking down in front of her men wasn’t something she wanted to do. Not when they felt so helpless.

A tickle on her back made her smile a bit, and she shifted, letting Norbert know he had permission to take form. He emerged from the tattoo which covered the expanse of her back moments later and sneezed.

Bless you, she said as the black and red baby dragon flew into her field of vision before landing on her up-drawn knees.

He sneezed again and a small puff of smoke escaped his nostrils.

Go spread your wings. You’re finally home and have your freedom back. She scratched him above his wing and he butted her cheek with his nose before flying off.

Being at the royal Sithen for the competition for Queen of Faerie had been hard on her little dragon. She’d been afraid if she let him wander off, Kendarla, the princess who had a hand in murdering members of her guard, would have found a way to take Norbert from her as well. Because of that, the little dragon had been spending most of his time as a tattoo on her back. But now that they were home, and Kendarla was no longer a threat, he could spread his wings again.

Watching him take off into the darkening sky, Mea turned her attention to the stable and moved her eyes fifty yards to the left. It was the spot she’d found Rocco’s lifeless body completely drained of blood.

The shaking started in her hands and quickly spread through her, causing every muscle in her body to twitch. The burning behind her eyes came next, quickly followed by a crushing weight against her chest. She sucked in a deep breath but couldn’t seem to let it out again. She struggled against the feeling of choking, grabbing hold of the grass and pulling it up by the roots until she managed to remember how to breathe.

They were gone, and finally acknowledging it left her paralyzed with loss. Kendarla and her guards had stolen part of her soul, carved out a part of her heart, and now that she was back home the realization slammed down on her so hard, she wasn’t sure how she’d ever be able to breathe normally again.

Another deep breath, another shudder as she let it out. She felt the tears streak down her face and was so unfamiliar with the feeling. Nymea Blut did not let anything get to her. She was a princess born with fire in her veins but acted more as if she was filled with ice. Emotions did nothing but leave one weak and helpless, and she was anything but. Although, right at that moment so many things filled her, she wasn’t even sure if she could name half of them. All she knew was she wanted it to stop and she wanted her men back with her.

She also knew as soon as she walked back in her Sithen, memories would rush through her and she needed to get all this out now so she could move on with her life. Many would think she was cold and uncaring, but as the Princess of the Blood Court she had responsibilities, responsibilities she couldn’t ignore to grieve.

So, she would grieve now, while no one was watching.

Moments passed, and she felt the strong arms of her captain wrap around her. He wouldn’t leave her alone long, not if he could be of service to her, and she knew that. Ryker had a special way of holding her, cradling her, no matter what position they were in. He held her close and kissed the top of her head, letting her mourn.

This shouldn’t have happened, she said as she turned her head so she could rest her cheek against his chest. Not at Court and certainly not here. They didn’t deserve this.

She wasn’t the only one grieving their loss, Ryker, Bechar, and Tripp would feel it almost as deeply as she did. While her guard were all individuals, they were also bonded together through her. Rocco and Wells were part of them, a part that had been ripped away without remorse.

I should have told Verity to let me kill her. The venom lacing her voice cut through the tears. Anger and vengeance always sat more comfortable with her. Those emotions she could understand. Those emotions could be used to fuel her.

Too good for her, he said and gathered her to him. Far too fucking good. Rocco would counsel that her alive and in dire straits is better, but you knew that, which is why you asked for it. Throw in little Senara’s coup...Kendarla is seething. She has lost her house, her fortune, her lover, and her family. It was the worst thing you could do to her, he reasoned. But yes, I think letting you skin the snotty little cow alive would have been great fun, too.

It would have been far more satisfying. She looked up when she heard the sound of wings and saw Norbert soaring overhead. He could feel her pain, too, and even though he wanted to, he wouldn’t go far, thinking of himself as another one of her protectors. Silly little dragon couldn’t burn down a pile of hay, but she appreciated the sentiment.

I knew you wouldn’t let me stay out here for long, she said to her captain. I’m surprised you gave me as much time as you did. By the time Ryker had found her, her tears had dried and most of her shaking had ceased, as if he knew the exact moment she would welcome his presence. Her captain was good at that, he always knew, always had, even when they were younger. I remember when Rocco showed up here. You and Tripp were already with me and I was sure Rocco would get a look at you two and decide to turn back around.

We might look like deviants, but Rocco knew the depth of our devotion to you right from the off, he agreed. Though Tripp in that chicken costume running around with a baseball bat was...hell, I don’t even know why he was doing that but then again, I rarely know why he does the things he does. Thanks for outlawing that feathery mess.

I kept finding damn feathers everywhere. While I appreciate the use of feathers at certain times, finding them all over my Sithen isn’t one of those times. She could still clearly recall the look on Rocco’s face when he stepped through the door and saw Tripp. Her poor politician had to be distracted quickly before she could lose him. I think it was more my persuading him to stay than it was your obvious devotion. She turned her face up and smiled at him.

For some, thinking of the dead made things worse, but for her, remembering them made some of the pain ease. Rocco had been her steady, consistent rock. While he definitely hadn’t been buttoned up and stuffy, he also wasn’t a drunken frat boy like the rest of her guard. He balanced out the scales, and gods she missed him. She missed Wells, too, a man who shouldn’t have been in that damn competition to begin with. A man who accepted a role in her life he shouldn’t have had to take. But the female who had forced that issue was dead, Queen Verity’s captain taking care of the previous queen before Nymea could get her hands on the bitch.

It’s going to be strange being back. It’s just the four of us now.

We will manage, he offered and kissed her forehead. But never say never. I mean who knows what’s going to happen. Verity opening the doors, allowing for guards to cross familiar and house lines. Maybe you will call more. He rubbed her shoulder. Which would be cool, ‘cause both Bechar and Tripp can’t play poker for shit, and we need some new blood around here. And if you say any of your fathers, so help me, Mea, I will put you over my knee. He grinned. They can never be replaced, he said softly. She knew he was missing his friends in that moment, their camaraderie and inside jokes. Even Rocco ended up having a decent relationship with her captain, but it really was because Ryker was a decent guy and committed to her happiness above all else.

You like playing poker with Bechar and Tripp, it’s the only way can win. I kick your ass every time. She rested her head back against his shoulder. It’s too late with Verity opening those doors. You know it as well as I do. I needed that to happen years ago. She took hold of his hand and held it. My fathers also never crossed my mind. Plus, they’d all kick your ass at poker since they taught me. You’re shit out of luck, Ryker. Although, I’m tempted to suggest them because of your threat. It sounds like the perfect distraction.

You want a spanking, my love, you only have to ask. But I get choice of my hand or the crop, he said and nibbled on her ear.

You call me ‘my love’ again, and I’ll take a crop to your backside. She looked up at his face, one brow raised before her face turned serious again. Did all the preparations for Wells get taken care of? I want to make sure he made it back home and was properly taken care of. That was another thing that killed her, she couldn’t take care of her dead. She couldn’t give them the send off they deserved because her duties had come first. They should have come first, but she knew they wouldn’t have wanted that. She had, though. She had wanted to tell the previous queen and her Court to go fuck themselves. She wanted to leave that place and bring Wells home with her. But she had stayed.

Verlaine and Xerxes handled it, he offered. Your mother was very fond of Wells, and wanted the best for him.

I know, she promised me to never let you guys know that he was her favorite. She sighed. I’m going to need to go see her soon, but I’m not sure I’m ready to face her. While I know she understands why I couldn’t go for the crown, it’s all she ever wanted for me.

Verlaine is a complicated woman, I think she understands that you need some time. But speaking of your parents, Hugo is here.

Why is my father here? She