《A Bargain for Bliss (sequel to The Fae Queen's Pet]》 Chapter One [Author''s note: This is a sequel to an earlier work, The Fae Queen''s Pet, which you can find in my profile.] I heard her before she entered the room. Her footsteps were light as if the wind carried her feet across each piece of the floor. And sometimes it actually did. She used to sneak up on me, but in the three months I¡¯d lived in Featherstone, the Raven Queen had fallen prey to my advanced predatory senses, the kind only a fierce huntress could cultivate. My senses would never be as sharp as those of my inner wolf, but enough bled through that I was a better tracker than any human and most faeries. Casually striding over to the window in my bedroom, I unlatched it and waited for the queen¡¯s knock at my door. Two arrived. She was growing impatient. Good, I thought. Just what I wanted. I called for my mistress to enter, and she opened the door. I noticed Barsilla, her arrogant left-hand lady hovering just above the queen¡¯s shoulder. That piskie had grown increasingly fed up with my antics as of late. At least, she made a big show of it. Of course, when my eyes hovered over the queen, I felt my heart skip a beat. Eyes widening as though I was looking at her for the first time, I came within inches of dropping my plan entirely. Her otherworldly beauty held me in a trance, seven feet of alluring artistry from her sleek obsidian hair to her enrapturing violet eyes that held all the mysteries of a Faerie Queen seemingly within reach, daring all who saw to reach forward. Her words floated across the room to my ears with all the confidence of a monarch who expected obedience and steadfast loyalty. ¡°Come, my pet. I¡¯m scheduled to hold court in 10 minutes, and I need my fearsome beast.¡± It took almost everything I had not to prance across the room and throw myself at her. The tiny fae hovering nearby had her usual pencil and clipboard out at the ready in case she needed to write down something important. Barsilla¡¯s eyes practically said, ¡°Do it. I dare you.¡± But that was ridiculous. The piskie couldn¡¯t have known what I was planning, right? I looked at her again in her tiny librarian outfit. And just staring at the representation of order and rules in the palace rekindled some spark of rebellion in my bratty ass. ¡°Apologies, mistress,¡± I said, not looking at Varella again because I knew her eyes would lure me in again, freezing me in my tracks. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± was all I heard Barsilla say as I frantically slid the window open and leaped outside. The queen was fast, and I felt her grasp millimeters from my nape as I dove toward the palace grounds a few stories below. Landing and immediately tucking into a roll, I exhaled. Then I rose with as much speed as I could leech from my inner wolf and bolted toward the back of Featherstone. From the window, I heard my mistress¡¯ low tenor voice carry a warning, ¡°My pet. . .¡± Those words sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew this was fucking with her schedule. But I didn¡¯t care. You welcome a brat into your home, and you should be expected to anticipate the consequences. I didn¡¯t hear her leaping out the window after me, just the soft swish of wild rye grass under my feet as I bolted away from where I landed. Will she endure the humiliation of being seen chasing down her pet werewolf, or will the mighty queen march herself to hold court without the fierce beast she¡¯s grown so accustomed to wielding over her nobles and guests? I thought, snickering. A few months ago when I¡¯d arrived at Featherstone, freshly ensnared in a bargain of the queen¡¯s making, I wouldn¡¯t have dared acted this way. There were probably mice in the walls of the basement that were less timid than me. But what can I say? The queen and her best intelligence agent had made me very comfortable here. They¡¯d given the werewolf a cookie, and in turn, she¡¯d not only stolen the entire glass of milk but the jar of remaining sweets as well. Okay, normally I wasn¡¯t this bad. But this week had been long, and restlessness was building up in every joint of my body. Maybe I was a little pissy. Or perhaps the full moon was three nights away. Both things could be true, I thought, the rear guard tower coming into view as I rounded a corner. It stood a few stories higher than my window with a narrow spiral staircase running up the center. A few faerie guards stood on the ground watching me bolt for the stone bridge behind the palace. They were armed with spears and leather armor bearing the queen¡¯s crest in the center, a black bird, head back, beak open, and crying to the sky with its wings spread wide. The guards looked nervously at each other as I continued running full speed in nothing but my silk pajamas with various puppy designs sewn into the fabric. My curly brown hair bounced behind me, and I realized the guards were calculating how much trouble they¡¯d get in if I was allowed to simply cruise on by. ¡°Um. . . Sierra?¡± One woman with short green hair cut into a bob stammered as she took a step to block my path. I leaped about five feet over her head using every bit of that borrowed werewolf strength in my legs. She didn¡¯t move to grab me, just scratching her cheek in confusion. Looking further up the guard tower, she called for Ceras. The queen¡¯s top talon jumped from the second story and landed behind me, hand axe rattling at their side. ¡°What is it, Belamie?¡± They asked as I continued running for the bridge, morning sunlight reflecting off the lake. The scent of forest and fish entered my senses as my brain told me I was nearly free. ¡°Do we just let the royal pet go?¡± Belamie asked. Turning back for a brief moment and running backward, I yelled, ¡°Ceras! If you see the queen, stall her! And suggest to her that I went out the front gate into town. Please and thank you!¡± Rushing off into the tree line, the last thing I heard was Ceras chuckling to themselves and stretching. ¡°Patrols turn up anything this morning?¡± They asked. ¡°No,¡± Belamie said. ¡°Then we¡¯ll let her majesty sort out this issue with her pet. She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ceras said. ¡°Besides, I doubt the queen has let her prized possession get too far ahead of her.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Rushing into the trees and seeing aspens, evergreens, and other greenery native to Faerie, I sneered. Bullshit, I thought. There¡¯s no way the queen would delay court to rush after me. Bushes whipped around me, and I jumped over a stump, knowing it would be more difficult for the queen to fly through the treetops and snatch me from above. That was assuming she was giving chase. After about five minutes, I came to a stop, sweaty and heart-hammering. This particular patch of trees wasn¡¯t far from where the queen had put down my inner wolf, earning the right to be my pack leader. My eyes darted at every snapped twig, a bead of sweat running down my cheek. To my left, a rabbit took one look at me and decided it could afford the risk of chomping on a purple flower nearby. Bitch, I¡¯m a werewolf, I thought. You should be fleeing in the opposite direction. Puffing out my chest, I turned toward the brown and white rabbit. I put my hands on my hips and said, ¡°Excuse me. Do you know what I am? You dare to snack in the presence of a fearsome werewolf? An apex predator for which capturing a rabbit in her jaws would be pup¡¯s play?¡± The rabbit didn¡¯t even turn its head to acknowledge my words. It just continued chewing on the flower¡¯s stem, taking the vegetation in like a board into a sawmill. Raising my hands slowly and pretending I had the claws of my inner wolf, I took a step toward the bunny. ¡°You should be more cautious in assessing your surroundings for danger, Bugs.¡± The rabbit¡¯s blue eyes finally glanced over at me as it sniffed at another flower nearby, this one with a large yellow bulb. Its nose and whiskers twitched before it decided to ignore me once more and snatch another snack. ¡°I¡¯m serious, little bunny. Surely you smell the wild canine inside of me. Your heart should be pounding in your chest, eyes watching my claws for any hint of movement. Otherwise, when you¡¯re distracted, you might yourself suddenly hoisted into the air and EEEEEP¡ª,¡± I shrieked, interrupted by a sudden, terrible force of upward movement that snagged my shoulders. Up through tree branches I went, air sucked out of my lungs from sheer terror at the speed with which I was being carried. Looking down, I watched the trees below me start to shrink, and then I felt myself suddenly reversing direction, falling toward the lake approaching terminal velocity. ¡°Fuuuuucccckkkk meeeeeeee,¡± I screamed, preparing for a sudden bath of epic proportions. As a werewolf, I was a bit tougher than the average human even when I walked on two legs. But from this height, I could at least expect a bruise or two landing in the water. And then, just as I steadied myself for a fishy fate, a pair of well-toned arms caught me just a few feet above the lake water. I was close enough to already smell the algae and aquatic turtles I prepared to join. Yet, I¡¯d been given a reprieve. Looking up at my savior, I saw the Raven Queen grinning down at me with all the smug satisfaction radiating from her face that she could muster. Two large black-feathered wings carried us over the water as Varella gradually moved into a hover, holding me Lois Lane style in her arms. The lake wind swirled around my hair and floppy pajamas as her violet eyes found mine. The inhuman red eyes I carried were locked in her gaze, not even wielding enough strength to frighten a wee rabbit. Goddamn, some days I was a downright disgrace to the canine race. ¡°Well, my pet. I hope you got all those. . .what do you mortals call them? Zoomies? Out of your system. We¡¯ve got a long day at court ahead,¡± she said, the grin never leaving her face. She knew I wouldn¡¯t get far. She knew! Sighing, I crossed my arms. ¡°I bet I was so close to getting away. You probably panicked and used all your magic to track me down,¡± I said, frowning. ¡°Actually, I was watching you from the sky the entire time. You¡¯re in the heart of my court, where my magic is at the epicenter of intensity. Before your feet even touched the ground I was in the air above you,¡± she said, laughing. Her dulcet chortle left me wanting to curl up in her arms and wrap myself tightly within her grip, closing my eyes and forgetting about all the needs and responsibilities of running a queendom for the day. But no! I¡¯d done this for a reason, and she needed to know why. Even if the inconvenience was beyond minor, she had to know there was a point. Well. . .as much of a point as my bratty ass could make for being obstinate, which typically wasn¡¯t much beyond being eternally difficult for the sake of adversity. ¡°Yeah, well. I wasn¡¯t even really trying. You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t let my inner wolf loose,¡± I said, arms crossed tighter. ¡°Ah yes, an ability you¡¯ve yet to manifest here, even after three full moons. But rest assured, my pet. Even if you were on four paws instead of two legs, I could have easily snatched you from the forest floor as I did just minutes ago,¡± she said. And then the queen¡¯s grin started to fade as she raised an eyebrow. ¡°Though your inner wolf wouldn¡¯t have run just before court anyway. It seems to be tamer the longer you remain under the weight of my sorcery and influence, bound by my bargain. But you, Sierra, acted out unexpectedly this morning. Why?¡± This was my chance! Here I could let her have it! But instead of unleashing a torrent of words, I just found myself lost in her eyes again. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of impatience in her voice, despite today¡¯s events being delayed by a few minutes. Though I guess you start when the queen says you start. And if you have a complaint, her werewolf would bite your face off. Sighing again, I sagged in her grip, words caught in my throat that I couldn¡¯t seem to dislodge or cough up. Fuck, all I could do was that infamous bottom gesture where I pointed my index fingers at each other and looked pathetic. On second thought, it¡¯s no wonder the rabbit didn¡¯t run away screaming earlier, I thought. ¡°Come now, my pet. You ran for a reason. Out with it. It¡¯s just the two of us here over the lake,¡± Varella said with an added softness to her tone. The game was over. And now I had to suffer the consequences of my actions, namely being upfront about my feelings. Surely there was something a little easier I could endure, being locked in an Iron Maiden or forced to listen to Rascal Flatts on repeat? The queen made no move to rush me, which just increased the feelings of wanting to curl up tight against her breasts and have a few hours with her all to myself. ¡°You¡¯ve been so busy lately,¡± I finally managed in a pathetic whisper. That was all the queen got for at least 30 seconds. A crane covered in pink and white feathers flew around us and closer to the shoreline of the palace while my mistress waited for more words. ¡°And Lily¡¯s still gone on her assignment in the Tulip Court. I just¡ª maybe I needed you to pay attention to your pet for a few minutes this morning,¡± I said, looking anywhere but her eyes. Saying this stuff was embarrassing enough. The Raven Queen did not sigh. And she chose her following words carefully. ¡°You speak right, my little wolf. My work and duties have increased threefold over the last few weeks,¡± she said. ¡°And you won¡¯t tell me what you¡¯ve been working on. Whenever I ask, you give me some vague answer meant to dismiss my curiosity,¡± I said. The queen looked over the palace for a moment. Her eyes carried a quiet contemplation that I couldn¡¯t begin to analyze. But then again, she was a Faerie Queen who¡¯d lived for centuries. Her perspective was bound to be drastically different than mine. And maybe I¡¯d forgotten that. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on Bliss, Sierra. And it''s remained under wraps so much so that not even Cereas knows about it. Even your girlfriend hasn¡¯t heard my plan yet. So why don¡¯t we have dinner tonight, just the two of us, and then I¡¯ll finally answer all your questions,¡± the queen said. Now that did lift my heart pretty high to the point I felt like I was running on clouds. Damn if my mistress didn¡¯t know exactly what strings to pull. All I could do was nod and finally give in to the temptation to nuzzle up into Varella. I breathed deep in her scent of chilly night air and raspberries that I¡¯d come to associate with safety and comfort. I sighed one last time, content with the answers that¡¯d been given me. The Raven Queen leaned down and slowly kissed my forehead, sending a tickle of delirium through my mind. It was something much more powerful than serotonin, and I made a muffled noise of pleasure. ¡°Can we head back to Featherstone now? I¡¯m afraid your inner wolf¡¯s presence is required,¡± Varella whispered. ¡°Just one more minute hovering here, please. I need you, mistress. So let me have you for just a little longer.¡± And because she spoiled me rotten, I got five more minutes with Varella just holding me over the water, morning breeze carrying our hair around us this way and that. I need to run away from her more often, I thought. Chapter Two The announcement sounded like always, ¡°Announcing Queen Varella, ruler of the Raven Court at Featherstone, she who soars high above and wields the dark wind. And her pet, the Wolf of Featherstone.¡± After my inner girl helped defend the palace against an invasion from the lake, our title received a promotion. Hushed whispers became the norm for me after I arrived in court. The nobles never seemed to tire of looking at the queen¡¯s pet werewolf. Covered from head to tail in walnut-colored fur, weighing close to 200 pounds, and carrying a jaw of teeth strong enough to pull apart iron bars, I was the perfect beast for the bird lady to tut around and keep others in line. When the queen sat at her emerald-encrusted throne carved from stone and covered in cawing ravens, I joined her. Some days she wanted me closer and others further. But I was always in the chair with her. The damn thing was big enough to hold three people. But the Raven Queen and her werewolf filled it comfortably. This particular morning the queen lightly tapped her left leg with two fingers, a movement I¡¯d been careful to watch for over the last few months. That meant she wanted my paws and head strewn across her lap. So I obliged. Because she was my pack leader, and my devotion to her was absolute. Though that certainly wasn¡¯t the case when I first arrived after finding the inner girl had willingly ensnared herself in the queen¡¯s service. I tried my best facing off against the Raven Queen in the forest not far from here. To her credit, she gave me a fair shot. I just wasn¡¯t nearly fast or strong enough to put her down. The feeling of being flipped over and slammed into the dirt hard enough to rattle trees around me was something I had trouble forgetting. Looking out at the gathered nobles, faeries of the Raven Court who had assembled to speak before the queen or witness those who were, I saw more apprehension than normal. A goblin covered in blue flesh and wearing the fanciest rainbow suit I¡¯d ever seen was sweating up a storm. A pair of mated centaurs were shuffling in place, hoves lightly clopping on the stone floor, cotton dresses swaying gently with their movements. On the opposite wall, a girl with the wings of a butterfly twiddled her thumbs, something that, until now, I¡¯d assumed was just what my inner girl called an ¡°expression.¡± Random nobles cleared their throats, coughed a little, and wiped their foreheads, waiting for the queen to speak. My pack leader remained silent, observing her people, trying to figure out what had them all so jittery. Or maybe she already knew. Yeah, that made more sense by her expression, a calm and gradual glance around the room. Her mouth gave away neither a smile nor a frown. Varella¡¯s eyes retained their frosty gare, violet irises that told those who saw them nothing more than the Raven Queen was thinking about something. No other secrets did they betray. After ruling this court for centuries, the dark monarch of Faerie learned to keep a tight grip on everything going on inside her thoughts and feelings. And on the off chance something slipped through, I was here to steal attention from the witnesses so they¡¯d miss whatever nugget the queen might¡¯ve dropped. ¡°Let the queen¡¯s business commence,¡± she said at once and without warning. ¡°I believe we have a long list of petitioners this day. No sense in dallying. Whoever is first to address me, step forth.¡± The hushed whispers came to a stop as soon as she¡¯d gotten a single word out. All eyes were turned toward the space in front of the throne. More cawing from the ravens on the back of this giant chair filled the chamber as we waited for the first person to take their place before the queen. ¡°I will approach the throne to start today¡¯s business if it pleases you, my queen,¡± an individual called from the tightest cluster of nobles. They stood near the large brass doors at the entrance of the throne room. And I watched them clear out as quickly as their legs would carry them when this faerie spoke. My pack leader motioned with two fingers for the speaker to come closer. Approaching the throne with a cautious demeanor, hands folded together as though one might run away if not held tight, an androgynous individual stopped about 15 feet before the queen. I raised my head to get a better look at the faerie that smelled of lemongrass and peppermint. Their orange hair was pulled back into a braid that swiveled back and forth on their approach. Brown eyes that couldn¡¯t help but find their way down to me once in a while watched the queen for any sign of immediate displeasure. This individual¡¯s movements were all carefully measured, as if every toe that made contact with the ground only did so after two days of nonstop planning. It went beyond the otherworldly grace that typically accompanied faeries who danced along the shores of eternity as though it were as natural a thing as breathing or blinking. This elf was tall and willowy, dressed in a well-tailored black vest covered in silver star designs. A short-sleeved white button-down shirt was tucked into his dark trousers, which were also decorated with silver stars and even bigger constellations. ¡°Who addresses me?¡± the queen asked, her tone warming a little bit. They took a moment to gather their breath before speaking. Another quaint calculation on their part, eyes circling back around to me for just a moment. ¡°My name is Dareth Ickmunt. I bring you a petition from the Court of Stars, your grace,¡± they said, bowing their head. A smile danced on the corner of Varella¡¯s lips, and I looked from her back over to Dareth. He did not speak another word until the queen had time to consider his identity. ¡°Ickmunt. . . surname of the Star Court King. It¡¯s been some time since I¡¯ve spoken with King Falmouth Ickmunt. Of course, everyone knows he has no living sons. But I¡¯ve heard he keeps a nephew close at hand, even granted him the title of prince. So tell me Prince Dareth, why do you visit my court without an official announcement? Foreign royalty doesn¡¯t typically approach my throne among the nobles during court.¡± Dareth paused and considered their next words. They made no effort to hide their identity. Now that I got a better look at the prince, I saw a blue crescent moon tattooed on their neck, along with more stars marking their terra-cotta flesh. It was intricate inkwork and truly set them apart from even the nobles. ¡°Forgive me, your grace. I did not mean to deceive you. Nor have I come to your court sans announcement for the purpose of spycraft or war. I only wear the title of ¡®prince¡¯ to placate my uncle. He is anxious about succession, you see. But I¡¯ve considered myself royalty, despite his decree,¡± they said. Varella clicked her tongue. ¡°So you come to my court without use of a title for the sake of humility?¡± my pack leader asked. ¡°It is as you say, your grace. I am not one for putting on airs. I find they needlessly devour my time,¡± the prince said. They seemed to have found their noble legs, speaking a little more forcefully now, not with any aggression, just more surety. The elf may not want a title, but I saw nobility within their inflection now. It was their eyes, those locked with the pupils of my pack leader. Each knew who they were dealing with now. No games. Just the queen¡¯s business. My ears twitched as I heard the nobles whispering amongst themselves once more. ¡°The Court of Stars? Why would their prince travel this far south?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I like the sound of this unannounced royalty.¡± ¡°Why come here to our court if not to bring trouble? I don¡¯t like their timing or tidings.¡± They continued to speak in hushed voices, but I tuned out and focussed once more on Dareth as the queen raised an eyebrow. ¡°You speak of your time as though you have any. Our kind does not wear bondage brought on by the strands of time as mortals do. So it¡¯s a curious thing to hear you speak of it in such a way,¡± she said. With their eyes sharpened, the prince said, ¡°You and I may have a ladle that can be dipped into the well of ages without limit, but my court faces the end of its days. This is why I come here to petition you, your grace.¡± Her amusement was gone. My pack leader¡¯s stare had grown cold again. I had only run in this world for years, but these were Faerie courts being spoken of now. Centuries of time wound up in each through peace and conflict. It was simply beyond the mind of me or my inner girl. Such was the comprehension of mortals and beasts. ¡°The Court of Stars is in danger of collapse?¡± the queen asked. The prince nodded. ¡°My home of 90 years faces invasion if not utter annihilation from the Fist of Kairn, an alliance of courts who¡¯ve expanded their military presence in neighboring territories far to the north. My uncle remains convinced our pacifism will keep us safe, and that the stain of dishonor that would come from taking a peaceful court will be enough deterrence. But I remain unconvinced.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. It wasn¡¯t just whispering now from the nobles. A few of them were starting to speak at full volume. ¡°I knew it! They¡¯ve come here to drag us into war.¡± ¡°Surely they can¡¯t expect us to protect them from so far away. That¡¯s absurd.¡± ¡°I say we ransom the prince off to the First of Kairn here and now. Then we avoid war and bring in a little coin.¡± That last suggestion elicited a growl from yours truly. It was enough that the court came to a pause. When a wolf growls, the grotto takes notice. When a werewolf growls, the entire forest takes notice. But my pack leader was not looking around the room to survey expressions from her people. She remained hyperfocused on the prince who¡¯d traveled so far to be here, chased by the threat of war. ¡°Your uncle is an optimistic king. I will not speak ill of him, but his decision and confidence in honor seem precarious. So tell me, Prince Dareth, what exactly have you traveled all this way to ask me? What request was important enough that it had to be delivered in person and could not risk being sent via crow messenger?¡± Another deep breath from Dareth before he spoke. At the throne¡¯s top, each raven perched silently, almost as if they were made of stone like the chair we sat in. ¡°You spent some years growing up in the Court of Stars, your grace. We still have a large painting of you and your brother when you were just a girl, studying constellations and the movement of celestial bodies with my mother and uncle. I¡¯ve come here to ask that if war were to swallow my home, you be prepared to receive fleeing refugees.¡± Varella considered this, crossing her legs and placing both of her hands on top of my head, which found itself in her lap once more. ¡°You¡¯re not asking me to intervene militarily but to be ready to welcome evacuees should the Fist of Kairn bring destruction to your doorstep?¡± my pack leader clarified. ¡°My uncle has forbidden requests for defensive aid, citing our court¡¯s laws. Pacificism means that not only do we avoid fighting, but our court refuses to allow others to fight for us. So I¡¯ve come here to seek the next best thing. I made similar requests to the Yellow Court and Worm Court, but they turned me down almost immediately,¡± Dareth said. I picked up the sound of footsteps as a noble stepped into view behind Dareth. He was a sturdy man wearing a red robe with gold trim. It covered most of his alabaster skin. The fae¡¯s black hair was cut short, and his yellow eyes washed over the prince from behind. ¡°My queen, you cannot grant the prince¡¯s petition. The Raven Court would risk further ire from the Star Court¡¯s enemies if we welcomed survivors of a hypothetical calamity. Our resources are¡ª¡± The Raven Queen cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of our resources, Lord Kitac. I do sit this throne and manage this court each week, do I not? So why would you presume to tell me things I already know? Or would accuse your ruler of being ignorant of her queendom¡¯s assets?¡± I didn¡¯t give Lord Kitac time to respond, rising to my feet and leaping down from the throne to the stone floor. My large paws passed over gemstones in the landing beneath me. I strode past Dareth, not paying him a lick of attention. My fur came within inches of their legs. My haunches popped as I assumed my full height and might, gradually approaching the lord who spoke out of turn. Even though the other nobles were nowhere near my path, they backed up against the wall as I passed. Their heartbeats were growing faster. And why? They¡¯d seen this play out before with Lord Harroldsen. They watched as I tore his throat open in an instant. But not here. I took my time approaching this lord so he could stew in the juices of this particular error. Lord Kitac was a man of average height, but I watched him start to shrink before my very eyes upon my approach. He made no move to run, and it was just as well. Outrunning a werewolf was not a common feat. A deep, echoing growl resonated across the throne room. I watched as his face sank with each second that noise rattled in his ears. The confidence he so boldly spoke with just seconds ago had taken a sudden leap into a bottomless chasm. And I suspected he now wished his body could do the same. I had a job to do here. My pack leader is a terrifying monarch. But she doesn¡¯t have to put her power on display every time she sits the throne. If a ruler had to show their true power very often, they wouldn¡¯t have a court to manage for long. That¡¯s where I came in. Because a wolf can be terrifying each time you see one. And a werewolf? Well, folks didn¡¯t even need to see us to be afraid. A lone growl echoing from the dark is enough to make most folks turn tail and run, especially when they so effortlessly felt the rumble penetrating deep into their core. I could be the threat and power flexed every day without a single noble questioning the strength of my queen. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I am her beast. The queen has her talons, her beak, her dark wind, and through me, she has claws and jaws that could fell any number of enemies. Flashing fangs, I padded another step closer to Lord Kitac, and any surety he had left dove into the same chasm that he wanted to hide in at this very moment. The noble fell to his knees and folded his hands. ¡°Mercy, please, your grace. I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me. Of course you know the resources of this court. You surely do,¡± the man said, nodding as if to convince himself. Before I could step closer, my pack leader called for me. ¡°That¡¯s enough, my pet. Lord Kitac knows he fucked up. Come back to me,¡± she said. I locked eyes with the sweating fae noble for what felt like several minutes before turning to leave. He fell to his ass catching his breath and then slowly stood, trying to gravitate to a section of the wall where everyone would forget he existed. As I climbed back onto the throne, the Raven Queen stroked my neck and said, ¡°Good girl. Such a fearsome beast you are.¡± I let my tongue hang out for a moment before locking eyes with Dareth and resuming a more vigilant pose. My pack leader stood and addressed not just the prince but her gathered nobles now. ¡°You who call the Raven Court home, I do not blindly ignore your fears and worries. Whispers of war to the north have grown louder these last few weeks. And now that we have a physical reminder of that conflict before our eyes, I understand why it makes you uneasy,¡± she said. Dareth said not a word. He stood listening to my pack leader with a calm demeanor that did not once lead me to believe he felt ignored by the queen¡¯s change of attention. ¡°This court has seen war. We¡¯ve seen death. But I will remind you that in my centuries on this throne, not once have I dragged our people into battle unjustly. Aggressors have tried their hand at conquering us, and enemies have stood at the gates of Perth before! Some of you were here to witness that. And what did I do?¡± The hypothetical question was accompanied only by ravens above me, summoning their chorus of caws again. Nobody answered the queen. ¡°I soared over those gates and struck down our enemies with a feathered blade in each hand. Time and time again, I have rallied our talons and feathers to drive the enemy back. You know me. I do not pick fights with other courts, and I do not loan our military to be a strength for others unless required to do so by established treaties. Do you not recall mere months ago when I avoided embroiling us in a war between the Yellow Court and Worm Court? Have you all forsaken belief in my wisdom so easily?¡± Now some nobles did answer her. ¡°No!¡± ¡°We believe in you, our queen!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve not failed us one single day on that throne.¡± My pack leader nodded to her nobles. The energy in the room had completely changed. She¡¯d whipped up their confidence into a fervor, all with a few words. I rose from the throne and stood at her side, my shoulders in line with her hips. ¡°You trusted me then. I call upon you to also believe in me now. I will not summon the ire and war of northern kingdoms to these lands. The Raven Court will remain safe and prosperous as it has for many years. So I ask you all, here and now, do you trust your queen?¡± And with a thunderous echo, each lord and lady present hollered in affirmation. ¡°Armed with your confidence, I will continue to protect our lands. I appreciate you all,¡± my pack leader said. Turning toward the prince as the nobles talked excitedly amongst themselves, the Raven Queen had softer words. ¡°Prince Dareth, I invite you to stay here at Featherstone tonight as my guest. If you accept my invitation, then we¡¯ll discuss your request for prepared aid in the morning.¡± The fae prince bowed. ¡°I appreciate your hospitality and am happy to accept, your grace.¡± My pack leader awarded him a brief nod and then resumed her seat on the throne, calling me to her once more. ¡°Come now, my pet. We still have much of the queen¡¯s business to attend.¡± And that¡¯s exactly what we did. Somehow, the throne room moved on from its display of Raven Court patriotism and continued with more petitions. None were as exciting as what we¡¯d heard from the Court of Stars, though. The very long day concluded with a shopkeep asking the queen for a 12-month moratorium on tax duties so she could expand her tailoring business from Perth into the neighboring village of Sanc Red. Once the queen granted her this, she dismissed the nobles. Within minutes, the throne room was empty and quiet as it hadn¡¯t been since before sunrise. I stood with the queen and stretched, wagging tail and rear rising while my front paws carried forward as far as they could. A yawn forced my jaws open wide for its escape. Varella chuckled and ran her fingers under my chin. ¡°You did well today, my pet. Fierce and frightening as always you are at my side. My bargain continues to be fruitful. Are you ready to call it a day? Shall I summon your inner girl again?¡± I nosed her arm, and the queen smiled. Then she placed a hand over my head and called forth to the magic she kept within my wolfheart. It echoed within my core, responding to her will, reshaping me into the human girl that struck the bargain in the first place. ¡°Retreat, my wolf. Sierra Chelsi, I call you forth.¡± A familiar smoke rose from the stone floor, engulfing my entire body so the transformational magic could take place. My instincts sank into an inner slumber to be called upon whenever the queen saw fit in the future. *** I stood on two legs once more and stretched. The smoke around me thinned, vanishing as the queen removed her feathered cloak, wrapping me in it as she often did when I appeared naked after each transformation. ¡°Fun day at court, my queen?¡± I asked, yawning. My stomach grumbled, and I felt a familiar light-headedness that came when assuming a human form again. ¡°You certainly ensured so, my little wolf. I believe I promised you dinner and some answers about Bliss. Shall we head to your room to get dressed for an evening meal?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that very much, mistress,¡± I said, smiling. Finally! I can have her all to myself, I thought. My mistress ran her nails through my hair, which, as usual, left me frozen in a dizzied state while I absorbed every moment of her touch, head slumped to the right against her breasts. ¡°We¡¯ll go when you¡¯re ready,¡± she taunted. I couldn¡¯t budge, and she knew exactly why. Maybe dinner wouldn¡¯t happen after all. Chapter Three Was I pathetic enough to pretend I was too dizzy to walk up the stairs to the dining room just so I could lean heavily on my mistress? Yes. Did she take the hint and decide to carry me bridal style just to one-up me? Also yes. I¡¯m ashamed to admit I¡¯d really taken to my new job as the queen¡¯s pet over the last few months, absorbing every single ounce of her attention by any means necessary. Okay, maybe I wasn¡¯t that ashamed. But she flaunted her attention and spoiled me rotten after a shitty 21 years. How else did she expect a brat to react except by making it her problem? And it wasn¡¯t like she was unarmed in our game of ¡°drive each other mad.¡± Varella was the fucking Raven Queen. She had all the magic that comes with a dark throne of Faerie. She knew I was powerless against her domineering ways, and there was absolutely no armor I could equip to defend against her piercing and all-knowing gaze. The way her violet eyes were capable of drowning me in a sea of surrender, the way her fingers could find any inch of my body to spread shivers, and the way her voice would slip into my subconscious, lulling me into whatever plans the eternal mind of an arcane monarch concocted rendered any fight I put up against her charms null and void. But I liked that. Gods be damned I liked it a lot. I was enthralled with the ways she owned every inch of my body, mind, and soul. The feelings I¡¯d get when I knew just how deeply she held me left my body quivering in anticipation of whatever the fuck she wanted to do next, be it melting me in a puddle of cuddles or unleashing a surprisingly horny corner of my mind I¡¯d not had much chance to explore before striking my bargain with the queen. And that wasn¡¯t the only thing I wanted to explore. The fae carrying me to dinner was seven feet of muscled goddess I¡¯d only had the pleasure of being metaphysically fucked by a few times since my arrival. It turns out heavy is the head that wears that modest silver crown and sits on the corvid throne. If the CEO of a Fortune 500 company gets a puppy, she doesn¡¯t get to drop everything and spend all her time playing with the pet. She should. But this is a queendom that has stood for centuries. The court doesn¡¯t merely prop itself up while the queen is distracted, much as I wish that were the case. A smile spread across the queen¡¯s face as she asked, ¡°My pet? You seem so lost in thought. What occupies your mind?¡± What was I supposed to do? Confess that fantasies of further domination had cornered my attention span once more? Never! ¡°I was just thinking about¡ª what we¡¯re going to eat. You know, because I¡¯m famished from the werewolf transformation.¡± Yeah, she totally bought that, I thought, surprised by my quick lie. ¡°Oh, I think you¡¯re hungry, starving even. But not just for dinner, my little wolf,¡± Varella said, before holding me up to whisper in my ear. ¡°I think you¡¯re dying for dessert as well.¡± Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I found myself immediately disarmed in our game. But my metaphorical sword hadn¡¯t just fallen to the ground, she¡¯d flicked it from my hand so hard that it flew into a stone wall 20 feet away. Just to remind me of our vast difference in ability. I had no more words being so disarmed. So the queen chuckled and continued walking up the tower. A few minutes later, we sat at an ornate round table I¡¯d sometimes fantasized about the queen taking me on. A silver cloth covered the table under our plates and black cloth napkins. Candles in the shape of baby crows were the only thing lighting our meal. They were enchanted so the wax didn¡¯t melt. I loved looking at the little corvids that appeared to be hopping around the table. One of the kitchen staff brought in a plate filled with veal scallopini and a bowl of sliced plums. Steam skipped into the air and over to my nostrils, leaving me feeling like I was about to float over the table like in those old cartoons. Carefully, I watched the queen pick up her silverware and dig in, always making sure my mistress took the first serving. Because she was worth it. The behavior was a small display of subservience, but I sometimes caught a little grin of acknowledgment when I waited a beat to bite my food. I tore into that veal as though it was my last meal, and the tenderness of this cut paired with rosemary and thyme opened the gates wide enough for a little moan to escape my throat. The kitchen staff had stayed around just long enough to receive that unintentional compliment before nodding his head and retreating to the meal prep area. Goddamn, I eat better as a pet than I ever did in my mortal life, I thought, emptying half my plate in two minutes flat. What could I say? As a werewolf, I had little control when it came to appetite control. The beast wanted to eat and without any delay, none of that ¡°savoring your food¡± shit. Tongue to belly was almost a race. I¡¯d just devoured a plum when the kitchen staff returned with a bottle of Pinot Noir and a pair of crystal glasses. He poured them half full and then retreated once more as I sipped from my cup. ¡°So, my pet, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve been curious about my plans and why I¡¯ve been so busy these last couple weeks,¡± she said in between bites of pasta. That¡¯s an understatement, I thought, taking another sip of my wine. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Am I allowed to know what it is if even your wings don¡¯t know?¡± I asked. The Raven Queen nodded and showed no reluctance whatsoever, which surprised me. What secrets do you share with your pet but not your spies? ¡°It¡¯s all about Bliss,¡± the queen said, taking another bite of food. Outside near the balcony, a blue jay was making final calls for the evening before settling into its nest. I waited for the queen to tell me what Bliss would entail. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on planning the biggest revel in Faery. Bliss is an event held once a century, and nobles from every court gather to celebrate,¡± she said. I cocked my head to the side a little. ¡°You¡¯ve been planning a giant party?¡± I asked. The queen chuffed, and I shrank back into my chair a little bit. Apparently, this was a stupid question to ask. But the queen didn¡¯t look upset. This was merely another concept she¡¯d have to explain to a mortal who now called Faerie home. ¡°It¡¯s more than just a party, my pet. Bliss is a celebration centered around the Rosemund Comet, which bathes all of Faerie in unique magic for just a few hours. It¡¯s an intoxicating energy that fills every fae with the nourishment of eternity. The stone of cold fire refreshes our spirits so that we may carry on another century without the burden of time,¡± she said. Yup, that was a stupid question, I thought. ¡°My apologies, mistress. I didn¡¯t mean to downplay such a significant event. Obviously, this is more important than I could know,¡± I said, finishing my meal, and placing my silverware on the plate to signal to the kitchen staff that I was done. Taking a sip of her wine and licking her lips in approval, Varella waved her hand in a way that said ¡°No harm, no foul.¡± ¡°The celebration serving as bookends to Bliss is a revel to end all revels. You already know that we fae are creatures that carry an overt fondness for riddles, dancing, and games. We celebrate many things with drink and merriment, but also the Wild Hunt and a spirit of fervor given chase. But Bliss is something entirely more grandiose.¡± Nodding, I looked across the table at my mistress, taking in her lesson on the happenings of immortal creatures. ¡°So this meticulous planning on your part has all been to get Perth ready to host Bliss? Like the festival for the dryads?¡± I asked. The queen finished eating and placed her silverware on top of her plate as well. ¡°Exactly. In one week, the Faerie courts will meet at Kilgara, the one sacred and neutral place in all of our lands. There, the kings and queens of every court will present their plans for the revel and decide which palace will host the celebration,¡± she said. All trace of flirtation and levity fled the queen¡¯s face as she went over her intent. I could feel a weight upon the room that didn¡¯t usually exist when we were together. And. . .was I imagining things, or did the queen¡¯s heart speed up a little just now? She¡¯s nervous about this, I thought. ¡°And you intend to host Bliss?¡± The queen nodded, finishing her wine. ¡°It is, my pet. Because when Bliss is complete, whichever land that hosted is permitted to ask a boon of any court in Faerie that attended the revel. And that land must grant the request, no matter what,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s like a wish,¡± I said. ¡°Of sorts.¡± After the plate and cutlery had been cleared away, we were treated to a large pile of lemon bars that crumbled perfectly in my mouth. Another moan escaped as I reached for a second treat before I¡¯d finished the one on my saucer. ¡°Mistress, will I travel with you to Kilgara?¡± ¡°Do you wish to go?¡± She asked. I might have nodded faster than ever before, nearly causing my brain to rattle around in its thick noggin. ¡°I¡¯d love to see the most sacred place in Faerie, and since it¡¯s neutral ground, then it¡¯ll be perfectly safe, right?¡± The queen rubbed her chin lightly before staring out the window as the sun was dismissed in place of its pale sister. ¡°Nothing in Faerie is perfectly safe, my pet. Remember that. You have a posh life here, and I spoil you at my pleasure. But if you go out there, it¡¯ll be in the form of your beast. Just because we¡¯re meeting in neutral territory doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t be attacked en route,¡± she said. I slowly nodded, coming to understand what all that would entail. My wolf form for travel there and back? I guess that was only fair since my inner wolf didn¡¯t get nearly as much time on the outside as I did. And the queen would want me armed with fangs and claws to defend myself if some other court tried to prove itself. I¡¯d finished a third lemon bar by the time another question rose to mind. ¡°Do you have any more preparations to make in your plans before we leave for Kilgara?¡± I asked. The queen thought for a moment and then shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m pretty much finished. But we will make a short trip tomorrow for one final bit of business. After that, it¡¯s just a matter of waiting for the presentations and practicing my persuasion.¡± I watched golden light dance upon the crow candles before a grin broke out across my face. If her preparation was done, then. . .. ¡°Mistress, you could always practice your persuasion on me before the event. I¡¯d love to help you in any way I could,¡± I said, tapping a finger on the tablecloth. Varella¡¯s smile matched my own as one of her legs found mine under the table, and she slipped off a show to rub her foot against my own. Gooseflesh dotted my arms and thighs as I stared into her eyes again. ¡°Oh, I already know I can persuade you to do anything, my pet. It¡¯s one of the things I take great pleasure in, ravishing you like no other. But as I suddenly find myself with a little more free time, I imagine we could rehearse my skills in the art of persuasion. And perhaps when I¡¯m finished speaking, my silver tongue could find other things to practice,¡± she said with a sultry stare that once more left me flushed, cheeks burning like you wouldn¡¯t believe. She continued stroking my foot with hers for a moment as our legs flirted under the table to match our stares above the cloth. Varella stopped when the kitchen staff came to remove our dessert. The lemon bars hadn¡¯t survived. One last question popped into my head, and I raised an eyebrow. ¡°My queen. . .where exactly are we going tomorrow?¡± Without missing a beat, she replied, ¡°Why, to meet my brother, of course.¡± Book #3 announcement Hey readers, Thanks so much for reading A Bargain for Bliss and following along on Sierra''s continuing adventure in the world of Faerie. Thousands of you have read this work across a few different platforms, and I couldn''t be more grateful for all your comments and positive reviews. So, I''m happy to announce the next book in the series will launch here. . . in a few months. I''ve got a couple of other projects to finish up. But Sierra''s next adventure will kick off before Christmas 2023. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The good news is A Bargain for Bliss is now available on Amazon as an ebook (paperback to launch soon). You can find it here. With the publishing of this ebook, I''ll start taking down chapters from here and other sites, leaving just the first three online to serve as a preview. If you''re looking for other projects of mine to read in the meantime, click here. As always, thanks for supporting my stories. It means the world as I continue to write stories about girls kissing and discovering magic.