Viciously Yours (Fae Kings of Eden Book 1)

The next morning, Amelia stood in the middle of her library in awe. Everything in the Mountain Kingdom took her breath away, but this was something else all together.

The circular room boasted the tallest bookshelves she’d ever seen. They covered every inch of the wall with sliding ladders attached. Even the door was a bookshelf, which blended seamlessly into the wall when shut, save for the door handle.

The shelves were a dark cherry wood that went well with the overstuffed leather furniture and matching wooden side tables. A gold desk sat in the middle of the large room, accented by the gold reading lanterns adorning each table. It was unreal.

A disturbance at the border needed Rennick’s attention, and after she’d convinced him that she didn’t need to be locked in their rooms all day to stay safe, he’d assigned a guard to accompany her wherever she wished to go until he returned.

Echo stood guard at the door, a permanent scowl pinned to their face. They had a slim build and dark, collar-length hair that contrasted starkly against their ivory skin.

After an hour of perusing the shelves, Amelia decided to find Fawn.

“Do you know Fawn?” she asked Echo, who lifted a brow.

“The maid?” Echo frowned down at Charlie, who rubbed against their leg.

Amelia crossed to the door, but jumped back when Echo blocked her way. “I’ll leave first.” She stepped back, knowing the guard was only doing their job. Echo walked into the hall and looked both ways before saying, “If Fawn works today, she’ll either be in the laundry room or cleaning rooms.”

Drat. She didn’t want to keep interrupting Fawn’s work. “Actually, can we walk through the gardens? I need fresh air.”

Echo glanced at her as the two of them meandered down the hall. “Have you seen them yet?”

Amelia shook her head. “No. Rennick promised to show me, but we haven’t had time.”

“There’s my future daughter-in-law,” a larger-than-life voice said, cutting off their conversation.

Echo snapped their back straight with an about face and bowed slightly to a large man with a handsome face and salt and pepper hair. “Your Majesty.”

The man waved a hand dismissively. “Call me Callum. Your Majesty is my son.”

It was Amelia’s turn to straighten and look at Echo for help. The traitor moved back to give Callum room when he approached. She took in his strong, stubble-sprinkled jaw, broad shoulders, and straight nose. Rennick was a spitting image of his father, and it took her slightly off guard.

A large, white snow leopard prowled beside him, and when Amelia’s brain caught up enough to notice, she screamed like a banshee and jumped behind Echo. It wasn’t a normal snow leopard. It was huge, with solid black eyes and the sharpest teeth she’d ever seen. It also possessed a surprisingly fluffy tail.

Charlie walked forward and stared at the leopard like he stood a chance of winning a fight with the beast.

Alarm coated Callum’s face. Then he realized what had frightened Amelia and roared with laughter. Echo’s shoulders shook lightly, and Amelia poked them in the back. “What’s so funny?” she hissed at her guard.

“It’s alright. My girl, Reyna, won’t hurt you,” Callum assured with a hearty laugh. “She’s my familiar.”

“Did the big cat tell you to say that?” she mumbled under her breath. The leopard chuffed, earning itself another wary glance from Amelia.

Inching around Echo’s other side, far away from Reyna, she held out her hand to Rennick’s father. “Hello. You will have to excuse me. I’m not used to seeing the interesting animals of the fae kingdom.”

Callum’s large hand engulfed hers, and he glanced at the lynx at Amelia’s feet with interest before flicking his gaze to her chest. “He’s not my familiar,” she said. “Rennick said I could keep him, though.”

Callum stared at Charlie a bit longer before releasing Amelia’s hand. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for twelve years, Amelia.”

A male guard ran down the hall, shouting, “Rebel attack on the south wall! Everyone to safe rooms!”

The few staff members in the hall scrambled in different directions, and Callum cursed. “Get her somewhere safe,” he ordered Echo. “Protect your queen.”

Echo grabbed Amelia’s wrist, tugged her toward a nearby door, and shuffled her inside. When Amelia flipped around, she bumped into a large, furry head.

“Oh, my gods!” she shrieked, trying to move backward, only to be met by a wall.

“Shh,” Echo whispered. “Reyna won’t hurt you. The former king can see and hear through her to check on you.” The shouting in the hall died down after a bit, but Echo made no move to leave. “If something happens and we are separated, stay with Reyna.”

“What do you mean, ‘if we are separated?’” Amelia whisper-yelled. Charlie moved against her, and she had the feeling he was trying to provide comfort. “You can’t leave me here.”

“I would never willingly leave you,” Echo replied vehemently. “But if someone comes through that door or I have to move you to a different location, things might happen.”

Amelia reached out to steady herself on the wall but was met with fabric and air that sent her tumbling to the ground.

Echo blindly reached for her in the dark. “Are you okay?”

Amelia felt a wet furry nose nudge her head. “I’m fine.” She jerked back when Charlie’s warm breath hit her square in the face. “Are we in a big closet?” It must be huge to fit two people, a lynx, and an oversized leopard, but she wouldn’t know because it was pitch black except for a small sliver of light under the door.

“Yes. It’s one of dozens around the palace.”

“Whose clothes are these?”

She heard Echo shift. “An older guard once told me that King Rennick had them added into the walls and filled with different types of women’s coats and blankets when he was a teenager.”

Amelia fingered the fabric above her. “Are they for the staff?”

Her question was met with silence at first, and she wondered if Echo was shaking or nodding their head. “No, but the maids must keep them dust free. No one knows why.”

How would someone pick out a coat in the dark? Bringing in a lantern might be dangerous with this much fabric jammed into one closet. Her mate was so peculiar.

Rennick. Amelia climbed to her feet and reached for Echo’s arm, grabbing a fistful of fluffy tail instead. Yanking her hand back, she said, “We have to find Rennick or get a message to him that I’m safe.”

Echo choked or scoffed. Amelia couldn’t tell. “I will not take you anywhere while rebels are trying to get through the palace walls.”

“You don’t understand.” Amelia felt panic filling her chest and worked to tamp it down. “Rebels killed his mother, and if he finds out they’re near the palace, he will kill everyone in his path to get to me.” Or get himself killed.

“Then let him. Either way, someone will die, and I’d rather it not be you.”

Damnit.

“Then I need something to write with.” She felt around in the dark, finding only blankets and coats. “How close are we to a room that might have something to write with? It sounds quiet out there.”

Silence followed, and she imagined Echo wished they were fighting rebels instead of stuck in a closet with her. “Why?” they eventually asked.

“I can attach a letter to Reyna and have her take it to Rennick. That way he—oof!” Amelia glared at Reyna’s silhouette in the dark. “Did you head-butt me?” Charlie stood at her feet and growled at the other cat.

Echo made a blowing sound like one did when trying to hold back a laugh, and Reyna released a growl of her own that was somehow not menacing, but a warning all the same.

“Fine,” Amelia conceded, “but when half of the palace staff are slaughtered for not moving out of his way fast enough, don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.”

Echo’s voice softened. “It’s admirable that you’re worried about the safety of your staff, but they’re all barricaded in safe rooms.”

A bit of Amelia’s tension loosened, having forgotten the earlier guard yelled about safe rooms as he ran down the hall. “Good.”

Sometime later, the door handle rattled, and Echo drew their sword while Reyna pushed Amelia back and Charlie pressed against her leg.

“Stay with Reyna,” Echo whispered.

Icy fear gripped Amelia like a vise.

“Open this door,” a commanding voice yelled to someone outside. “I want to see every room until she’s found.”

The doorknob rattled again. “It’s locked, Your Highness.”

Your Highness?

“Move,” the first voice barked, and seconds later, the door was ripped from its hinges.

A towering man with blond hair and skin slightly darker than Amelia’s stood like a murderous angel, holding the door with one hand. Reyna ran forward, slammed her paws into his chest, and… licked him. Amelia and Echo both gaped at the deserter.

Seeing Reyna, the man dropped the door with a loud crash and petted her head, relief evident on his face. The leopard dropped to the ground and stepped around him, leaving Amelia and Echo to the mercy of a man who could rip locked doors off hinges with one hand.

Echo, gods bless them, still had their sword up, ready to fight.

The torchlights in the halls weren’t bright enough to light the back of the closet, and Amelia tried to make herself as small as possible.

The man held his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt her.”

“Pardon me, sir, but I don’t know that,” Echo shot back.

“I appreciate you protecting Amelia, but I will see her one way or another. Lower your weapon.”

The man knew her name.

Echo tightened their grip on the sword. “Not until someone I trust gives the order.”

Amelia, not wanting Echo’s death on her hands, stepped forward. “I’m fine.”

“Get back,” Echo demanded, stepping in front of her.

A small bark drew their attention to the man’s feet, and there, looking healthy and happy, was a tiny fennec fox. “Eddy!” Amelia cried and tried to move forward.

Echo blocked her again. “Get back.”

“You told me to stay with Reyna.” Amelia pointed to the snow leopard. “If you weren’t here, Reyna would let me see him.”

Echo considered her words and turned to the giant cat sitting quietly in the hall. “If he hurts her, I will use your fur as a rug.”

The man looked at Echo appreciatively. “If you ever move to the Desert Kingdom, you will have a job as my guard.”

“Who are you?” Amelia demanded with more valor than she felt.

Eyes the same color as her own landed on her. “My name is Amos.”

She waited for him to elaborate and when he didn’t, she looked at the warriors barricading each end of the hall. “It’s nice to meet you.” I think.

The guards parted, drawing her attention, and there, at the end of the hall, stood a mountain of a man, covered in blood, looking like Death himself.

Rennick’s chest heaved, and Amelia hadn’t realized how worried she’d been until that moment. A relieved cry tore from her throat, and she ran toward him, jumping into his arms, not caring that the blood covering him smeared all over her dress. He buried his head into the crook of her neck and held her tight, whispering soothing words and assuring her she was okay.

“I worried you were hurt, and Reyna wouldn’t take you a note to let you know I was safe,” she mumbled against his shoulder.

He pulled back to look at her. “I would never leave you unless I knew you were safe. Echo is the best warrior we have, even more so than Finn.”

Amelia looked at Echo, who shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Amos,” Rennick said, tipping his head. “Thank you for finding her.”

Amos stalked toward them, motioning for his guards to leave. “I thought the rebel situation was taken care of in the Mountain Kingdom.”

“I did too,” Rennick replied grimly, tightening his hold on Amelia. “But they never truly go away.”

She dropped her legs and patted his shoulder until he reluctantly let her down. “Why does he know my name?”

Rennick sighed. “We’ll explain everything soon, love.” His attention snagged on Eddy sitting at Amos’s feet. “Where is his coat?”

Amos rolled his eyes, and Amelia bit back a laugh. “I’ll put it on him when we get back to the room,” she promised.

Amos stepped slightly in front of Eddy. “That won’t be necessary. He’ll be going home with me.”

Eddy whined and Amelia bristled. “You can’t steal my fox.”

“He is my familiar,” Amos said quietly. “It’s been difficult being away from him for the last ten years, and he isn’t made for the cold.”

What is he talking about? Amelia looked at Rennick, and the expression on his face confirmed Amos’ words. The realization punched her square in the chest.

Rennick took notice and moved in front of her, his voice terrifying. “I will kill you if you don’t let her keep him.”

Eddy looked between the two men, and Amelia lightly popped Rennick’s side. “Stop threatening to kill people. You’ve explained familiars to me, and I understand how important they are to their owners.” Reyna growled at Amelia’s words, and Charlie growled back. The little lynx was brave. She’d give him that. “Or whatever you are to them,” Amelia amended.

She knew Eddy needed to be with Amos, but she hated it. “Can I visit him?”

Eddy made a barking sound and Amos reached down to pick him up. “As often as you’d like.”