Ch 40: The Queen's Quarters

As much as Astasha wanted to believe the water witch’s little trick would work, she knew better than to hope. But Cal had been so relieved at the notion that she might not have to face the terror of the ritual stone again, that she couldn’t bring herself to bring him back to reality.

And so it was decided that should the High Council ask to read them (or more so, when, as Astasha felt), Norelle would perform her ripple spell on each memory the two had of their intimate moments together.

The group had returned inside the castle and while Tasha greatly desired to begin work searching for the location of the stone palace she had seen, Calder insisted she needed more rest. Errant had agreed with him but assured her he would personally begin researching its possible location immediately. The High Sorcerer had wanted Astasha to stay in the healing ward, but Calder convinced him that a proper bed would be far more comfortable.

Sorcerer Terrin inspected her wounds and applied fresh herbs, while Cal left to make arrangements he refused to give her details about. It hadn’t taken long before he had returned and Astasha found herself being led by the Prince down a hallway in the royal quarters she had never seen before. Once again, Talib and Norelle were in tow at Errant's insistence.

Finally, they came to a set of oak doors and Calder pulled them open, revealing a room that took Astasha's breath away.

It was large and airy, with several windows that the fading sunlight filtered through. Everything was white and gold, from the enormous bed, to the furniture in the sitting area. Even the tub was a creamy porcelain. There were flowers everywhere, and the scent filled the room.

Tasha took a step inside. How had she never seen this place before? She had done cleansings in every room of the royal wing, or so she thought. She didn’t even know this one existed.

Cal walked in behind her. "Do you like it?" he whispered.

"It's beautiful." She breathed in response.

He put his arms around her. "It was my mother's."

Astasha turned quickly to look at him, his hands remaining around her waist. "Cal, I can't--"

"I couldn't let you go back to your room, and I didn't dare bring you to mine after what happened there. My father has kept her room this way since she passed, I guess as a little piece of her. My mother would have loved you. She would have wanted you to feel safe and comforted. This was where she would come when she needed that. When my father was away at war, or when they fought."

Tears were in her eyes as she looked at the man she loved, his eyes traveling over the room as if he was waiting for the woman he spoke of to appear suddenly. "I'm sorry I never got to meet her." She cupped his face in her hand.

He looked down to meet her gaze. "Me too."

A throat clearing pulled them from the moment.

Talib sure had a habit of doing that when he felt uncomfortable.

“Sorceress Norelle and I will be right outside if you two need anything." He said, winking at Calder and pushing the doors closed.

Astasha turned back to Cal. "The High Council will be here soon, we shouldn't--"

“If Sorceress Norelle’s idea will work, which she seems confident it will, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Not knowing if she trusted the silver-haired witch yet, Astasha didn't want to risk adding fuel to the fire. But her heart longed to be with Calder, to touch him, be held by him. She didn't trust that the nightmares wouldn't return, and she knew he would pull her out of them.

"Cal..."

He took her hand. "Come on. I had them prepare the bath for you. They can’t banish you for taking a bath can they?” He raised an eyebrow, a small twinkle of a smirk in his eye.

Oh how this man could charm her. She didn’t know if she could ever have the strength to actually resist him, and so she sighed and allowed Calder to lead her over to the giant tub which she now realized was full of steaming water.

As she stared into it, it dawned on her that she would have to undress to get in, and became unexpectedly nervous for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.

"Cal..." she tried to say again, but her handsome Prince stopped her by placing his lips gently on her own. His hand cupped her cheek and she found her own on his chest.

The kiss was tender, full of love, full of all the things she realized he'd been holding onto for her through the horror they had both just faced.

Slowly, he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. "Please, Tasha, let me take care of you, just this once, let me pretend I can give you all the things I've wanted to since I first laid eyes on you."

Her stomach fluttered and her heart beat only for him. She nodded softly and his lips found hers again, taking her breath away.

Breaking the kiss, he looked deep into her eyes. His hands drifted to the sash around her waist. She had finally been allowed to change out of the white gown she had been wearing in the healing ward into one of her own that Helia had brought to her before their trip to the garden.

Calder untied the piece of cloth, placing it on a small table by the bath. His fingers drifted up her sides, to her arms, his eyes never leaving her as he slid one strap of her dress, and then the other, slowly off her shoulders.

It fell to the floor, his gaze traveling down her body with it.

She was suddenly very self-conscious about the multiple cuts and bruises that still covered her body, and found herself trying to cover herself with her arms.

Cal stopped her, his hands moving hers to her sides before he brought his lips back to hers. He kissed her mouth, her cheek, down to her neck.

Her heart raced as he found his way to the scars over her breasts, kissing each one, and then knelt, doing the same to each scratch and mark down her stomach.

"Cal..." her voice was a soft breath that whispered his name.

When he stood, the look in his eyes said more than even the emotions she could feel within him. He would worship her, flaws and all, until the day he died. He would kiss away each wound she endured, even if it took him forever.

Astasha reached out, grasping the bottom of his shirt, and pulled it over his head. Her fingers then loosened his trousers, and he helped her push them down. The two stood bare before each other, taking all of one another in.

Calder took her hand and helped her into the warm water before following her in. He leaned against the side, pulling her so her back was against his chest.

She had never felt the emotions coursing through her body before. This man, this amazing, perfect man, cherished her, loved her, would die for her, and now, he was caring for her like no one ever had.

His hands were gentle as they washed her body and hair. She had never had her hair washed by someone else before. It was intimate in a way she'd never thought of.

Turning, she faced her Prince and did the same for him.

Neither spoke the entire time, they simply existed as one.

Finally, when the water had begun to get cold, Calder helped her out of the tub, delicately drying her off. She had never felt so connected to him. Her guard was completely down, her soul bared for him to feel.

Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms. Again, his eyes never left hers as he carried her to the bed and gently laid her upon it. He moved next to her, his body slightly over hers.

His chest was rising and falling and she could feel an emotion between them she couldn't quite discern. Her own heart was racing as he looked at her, his hand drifting down her body.

A breath caught in her throat as his fingers brushed between her legs. Slowly, gently, he moved them back and forth, never breaking eye contact, until her breathing became ragged and his fingers slick with her passion.

She almost whimpered when he pulled his hand away. But he moved on top of her, and leaning down, kissed her deeply as she felt him enter her, taking her breath away completely.

The fire that had raged the last time they had made love was a slow burn this time. It kindled and grew as he rocked his hips back and forth, her own moving in time with him. Instead of an intense need, she was overwhelmed by a deep love. It radiated through them, and she didn't need to open her eyes to feel their flames wrapping around them, joining them together in more ways than one.

Calder pulled away from their kiss and Astasha gasped. His eyes were alive with blue flames, the gold in hers moving in sync with his. Their breath came and went in unison, their bodies completely in tune. She couldn't differentiate between her pleasure and his anymore, it was simply theirs. The gold and blue tendrils consumed them, enveloped them, blocking out everything but each other.

Astasha's legs wrapped tightly around Calder, her fingers gripping his back as she felt them both coming to the peak. Tingles spread throughout her body and his mouth claimed hers as everything burst in a brilliant explosion of fire and light, both their bodies crashing over the threshold into utter bliss.

She had no idea how long they had been like that, wrapped in each other's embrace, Calder still on top of her, not moving, just breathing, slowly coming down off the high.

It felt like it could have been eternity.

Cal lifted his head, his gaze wandering over her face. "I love you Astasha."

"I love you, Calder."

He shook his head. "I don't care what I have to do, what laws I have to change, rules I have to break, someday, I will make you my Queen."

He kissed her again and buried his head in her neck.

Slowly, a tear fell from Astasha's eye. If only that weren't such a beautiful dream, and nothing more.