A Dark and Deadly Beauty

The Solstice Moon

Electra had been relieved that Beck showed no signs of shock that she had sliced at a senior member of court with her barbed tongue.

She had been head of the Warfare Guild for decades, yet so many fay at the court still seemed frequently taken aback by her brash and bridleless words. She had learned the rules of nobility as an adult, with its masquerading gentleness and faux decorum. It was duplicitous and deceptive, and only a rare few folk actually had the virtue to say what they mean and mean what they say.

So, Electra had long decided to be her mother’s daughter and speak her mind. Perhaps she lacked the hollow niceties of a court-born woman, but no one could deny that Electra Durand was a person of honor.

Still, her bluntness often left a sour taste in other noble’s mouths. Mr. Reed seemed not to be bothered at all, and she found it refreshing.

She was escorted to the dais by Beck, and then he vanished behind her, leaving her alone to present her gifts to the twins.

The Dark Prince and the Crimson Princess smiled up at her as she approached. In other courts, in other times, there would have been an icy wall of formality between the royals and Electra, but this family -they showed their grace and power without standing on rigid ceremony. Emilia and Faren treated their friends as family, and Electra was greeted with a smile as warm as if it had come from her own kin.

Emilia stood, regal and compelling in her draping gown of velvet cream. The garnets in her crown sparkled in the firelight, but not half as much as the garnets embedded in her brow. Even with a babe perched on her hip, she looked like a fairy queen.

Emilia cupped Electra’s cheek in a sweet greeting and said “You look like you were painted by the stars and come to life.”

“That is very kind, Emilia,” Electra deflected, “But no one is more handsome than that little love on your hip. Come here, Kyrin, let me hold you, you gorgeous little lamb.”

With ease, the babe slipped from one woman to another. Kyrin’s snowy, spotty tail twitched playfully as Electra bounced him up and down. In Faren’s lap, Kaitrin squawked her objection at being ignored.

Electra sat her gift down on the table before Emilia, and deftly scooped the little girl onto her other hip. With her strength, the twins felt almost weightless in her arms. Just soft, warm bundles of cooing dandelion fluff. She had to resist the urge to bury her nose in Kyrin’s hair and sniff him.

It may come as a surprise to those who didn’t know Electra well, expecting her tenderness to match her ferocity, but Electra adored children. Even when she was a young woman, barely out from behind her mother’s skirts, she was often the one that folk in her town turned to when their children needed minding. If there was grown-folk business to attend, like a town meeting or a criminal sentencing, the town’s chief officer would offer Electra a few shillings to keep the local’s younglings in the parlor of the brothel while the adults managed affairs of the world. After all, who better to guard the children than a lethal warrior girl?

Truthfully, before the Guild and the title and the court, Electra had thought she would grow older in the same little town, surrounded by fishermen and their work-worn wives, and open a public nursery. Young Electra would have been happy to spend her days rocking babies in their cradles and teaching children how to buckle their shoes.

And despite the resentment she felt at old Mardak shoving motherhood down her throat, Electra did like the idea of having a child of her own.

But, she watched her mother struggle to raise her and Colm. Even with the extra love and support they received from the other prostitutes, Sera still worked herself to the bone to bring her children to adulthood alone. So Electra refused to have a child unless she found a partner, man or woman, to share the journey of parenthood with. The problem was, she had yet to find a single soul she trusted enough.

The sound of tearing paper jolted Electra from her reverie. Emilia had unwrapped the tightly bound parchment that had concealed the dolls.

Upon seeing the delicate figures inside the parcel, the Princess gasped.

“Ellie,” Emilia gushed, “These are precious! And so soft!”

She pulled the dolls free and held them aloft for Faren to examine.

“I’m glad you like them. I made them from my own baby blanket, with only the softest wool filling. So, I can assure you- there is nothing that can scratch or itch the babies in there.”

“Wait,” Faren said. “You made these yourself? I thought you had purchased them from a toy maker! Lady Electra, these are exquisite.”

He handed one doll to each twin. Kyrin took it delicately in his chubby hand and felt the softness of the fabric before bringing it to his face and rubbing it all over his cheeks. Kaitrin gurgled and immediately shoved the hand of her doll in her mouth and began chewing it viciously.

“You used your own baby blanket…” Emilia’s eyes were glassy as she spoke. Since the twins had been born, she had become more easily moved and emotional. “What treasures. No gold or silver could compare to this.”

“I’m pleased they like them,” Electra gave the children both a tight squeeze and a brisk peck in the head. “May the stars bless your first Yule, Kaitrin and Kyrin. I’ll leave you all to finish your dinner.”

She handed the children back to their parents and stepped down the stairs of the dais. To her surprise, Beck was there waiting for her, a pair of honey-dipped apples, on skewers and coated in walnuts, clenched in each of his hands.

“I thought you might enjoy a candied apple, my Lady. They seemed to be vanishing quickly from the banquet table so I snatched one for each of us.”

“I did have my eye on these,” she admitted as she lifted one from his strong, solid fingers. Candied apples were a staple at royal feasts, and they always disappeared from the dessert table first. her inner glutton was overjoyed. “Thank you. I doubt I would have been able to enjoy one otherwise.”

“You know, you don’t have to speak in your proper lady voice with me.”

Electra opened her mouth to object, to bite back at the critique. She was getting sick to the damned gills of pompous men telling her what she can and can not say. Her mind grew hot with irritation, but then she realized he wasn’t insulting her…he was offering her a chance to drop the air or nobility she had to adopt as a noble and just be Electra Durand. The irritation in her mind fizzled away, and instead felt bathed in the cooling balm of her authenticity being accepted.

“It’s hard to shut that part of yourself off when you’re in a crowd, sometimes,” she said softly. “You grew up in the palace,do you ever feel that way?”

“All the time,” he slowed his stride to match hers and they began taking slow, aimless steps as they talked. “In fact, growing up in the palace leaves me with very few places I can unwind and be myself. Outside of the royal family’s private quarters, I always try to present a very polished and refined front. Faren had never pushed me to behave as anything but myself, but I am often the first person people interact with when meeting the Prince. I’d be gutted if I did anything that reflected poorly on him.”

“I feel the same, but about the Guild. I refuse to change who I am for the sake of the court, but I had to learn how to be both a Lady and a warrior to represent my folk. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels like they have two versions of themselves…”

She continued to muse out loud, lulled into comfort by this man who brought her apples. Electra could be social when need be, but she had few close friends that she allowed to see beyond her armor. Yet here she was, talking about identity struggles with the Dark Prince’s valet, half-drunk of winter fruit wine, ambling around the fringe of a feast.

Beck listened intently to her words, never interrupting or allowing his attention to flutter around the room. She felt his ocean-blue eyes watch her lips as she spoke, and watched as his solid, shapely body turned toward her in interest. She tracked the path of his apple to his mouth, thin and peachy-pink, and marveled at the flash of ivory teeth that pierced the sticky, sweet coating.

He chewed like a starved cat, but not even the loud crunching could not distract her mind from the fact that even as he ate, he never took his eyes off of her face. Even when his tongue darted out and licked stray crumbles of nuts from the edges of his mouth, or when he snagged a drink from a passing tray of water goblets and took a heavy gulp.

Perhaps it was his earnestness. Or his attentiveness. Or the heady wine she had guzzled earlier that made his face seem so touchable. Maybe it was the fact that he put her at ease with his presence.

But being with Beckett awoke the needful desire in the pit of her stomach, the devilish voice that reminded her that her body wanted… no,deserved… to be shown such attentiveness too. She was horny, and he was handsome and kind.

Electra slyly took in Beck, his broad frame and rosy skin. The tussle of brown hair and the gentleness in his eyes. And she decided that she wouldn’t mind finding herself alone in a dark corner with him tonight.

But, it was her brother's first feast, and she didn’t want to abandon him to the crush of perfumed bodies. It had been a while since she had seen him heading to fill his plate. Where was he now?

She caught sight of Colm, nibbling on a pie and chatting with an antlered woman from the Elemental guild. His body seemed small, like he was folded in on himself. Electra could tell he wasn’t comfortable in his body, despite his fine clothes and healed flesh. But, he was smiling and his midnight-black eyes were slight with energy. He was enjoying himself, so she would allow herself to enjoy as well.

“Looks like the crowd is starting to imbibe belladonna wine and hallucinogenic mushrooms,” she commented. “I think I’d like to go enjoy my apple away from the fumbling morons for now. Fancy a walk near the woods?”

He nodded his head, a crooked smile playing on his lips. He offered her an arm and tossed his apple core over his shoulder. Even a few paces away from the party, the air was icy and fresh. Despite the velvet of the winter night, the moon hung so full and low in the sky, the whole world was cast in a silvery light.

She licked her apple clean of the honeyed coating and took tiny little mouse-like bites of the fruit’s flesh. The tart-sweetness of it exploded in her mouth and she had to keep herself from trying to swallow it in four beastly bites.

“You eat like a squirrel,” Beck snickered.

“Well you eat like a moose, so bite my arse.”

She had worded it intentionally, a saucy offer meant to get a rise out of him. She found herself disappointed when he said nothing, merely shaking his head as if he was exasperated.

“If I recall correctly,” he finally said, his voice lazy and languid, “Think this is the stretch of woods where I first met you.”

“I think you’re right,” Electra flung her apple remnants into the woods and licked her fingers clean. “I still can’t believe you tried to fight a cougar with your bare hands.”

“I can’t believe I’m still alive after trying to fight a cougar with my bare hands,” he chuckled. “What did you end up doing with its spine? Nail it over your mantle? Use it to taunt first year guild members?”

“Creative guesses, but no. I gave it to the little boy’s -Bailey’s- mother. As a reminder of what a survivor he was that day, how brave he was in the face of death.”

“That’s quite a momento. I wonder what he did with his life.”

“He’s a mummer’s apprentice, about twelve years now. He’s set to take over the troupe when the lead actor retires.”

“How the bloody hell do you know that?”

“His mam started writing me letters, about a year after the attack. Give me little updates on him and how it’s successful in the world. She says that since I risked my life to save his, I deserve to be apart of watching him grow into a good man. She’s quite sweet,actually.I even got an invitation to his sister’s wedding in the spring. I think I’m going to go, see how their family is doing.”

“That’s…wow. That’s wonderful. I’m happy to hear he’s done well for himself.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think to share his mother’s letters with you until just now. You saved the boy just as much as I did.”

“If you have any of them still, I’ll gladly read them now.”

“I’ve kept them all, you’re welcome to come see them anytime you like.”

Her shoulder brushed his arm, and desire snapped in her like the broken string of a lute. She didn’t know how to hint that she was open, ready if he wanted to move on her.

The offer hung in the air, stretched out across a million moments until the tension between them was thick enough to slice with a blade. Please, her heart and body begged, show me if you want me and end this fire in me.

Instead, he kept walking.

“We’ve wandered quite far away from the party, Lady Electra. We can head back, if you wish,” Beck said, the spot where his hand gingerly met her arm thrumming with warmth and longing.

If Electra could have peered into his brain, she would have seen that his mind was screaming at him to hold her, feel her. To stop with the courtly, appropriate touches and let his hands explore the silken ink of her hair and black stripe that patterned her flesh.To forget that she was a Lady and he was a royal valet and press their bodies against each other until there was no space between their skin.

But-she hadn’t asked for his touch or his wants, so his hand stayed where it was while his mind danced with possibilities.

Electra couldn’t read his mind or see his thoughts. However, her gut told her that her chance to be with this man tonight would slip out of her fingers soon. There was no more room for flirtation or veiled messages. Electra prided herself on her boldness, and now it was time to be bold.

“Mr. Reed,” her smoky voice carried on the cold winter air, “Not even the darkness of the night or the shadow of the forest’s edge can hide the lustful gleam in your eyes.”

Electra couldn’t see the flush of his cheeks, but felt him tense.

A sigh escaped his wide, thin mouth. “I’m a hot-blooded man, my Lady, and you are a beautiful woman. I should have concealed my thoughts. If I’ve made you uncomfortable, I’m terribly sorry.”

“I never said you should conceal your thoughts from me, Beckett.”

Her black eyes seemed to spark in the moonlight.

“As a matter of fact, I think I would quite enjoy you making me… uncomfortable.”

He froze for a beat. “You would? I should?”

Electra didn’t reply. She simply moved Beck’s hand to the spot on her back where her bare skin was aching to be caressed.

“Yes,” she whispered. There was no tease or flirtation in her voice, only invitation. “Kiss me under the solstice moon, Mr. Reed, and make me uncomfortable in all of the best ways.”