a_l_mcintosh

From the world of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.

Keep reading for a sneak peak.

Masdann, Unseelie Prince of Dreams, is visited by MacKayla Lane O'Connor, Queen of the Fae. During her visits to his court, she occasionally gets lost in dreams and possibilities. Eventually, Masdann begins crafting them for her as a tribute--particularly a long and lengthy one where she and her consort Jericho Barrons have a child.

If you've read any of these books, you know that Mac and Barrons having a child can't even begin to be described as 'interesting'.

It's Mac and Barrons so there is definitely some mature content.

--SNEAK PEAK--

It had been almost ten years since Barrons’s son had been here. There was still a stain on the ground from where he had ripped out my throat and I had bled out multiple times as my body had worked to restore itself. 

“I’m sorry,” I said softly as I felt the earth offer and begin to replenish me. He shifted closer and took my hand. “I don’t like this room, either.”

“Just hurry up and replenish, Mac,” he told me. “That stain on the floor forces me to remember watching you repeatedly die. It’s filling me with the need to fuck you.”

I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder as I said, “Everything fills you with the need to fuck me.”

He snorted a laugh and slanted me a look, saying, “Yes, because nothing makes you want to take me anywhere, anytime. Remembering holding you as you repeatedly bled out shortly after you admitted you should have voluntarily fucked me *really* fills me with the need to fuck you.” I was chuckling by the time he got to the end of his sentence and I opened my eyes to see him smiling down at me. 

I smiled back up at him before I said, “It’s been—what? almost ten years since I stumbled into the bookstore?”

“Something like that.”

“It’s been almost ten years since I met you,” I said as I squeezed his hand. My voice was just above a whisper. “Ten years and I am still ripped-down-raw in love with you, Jericho Barrons.”

Barrons was exultant, and I couldn’t breathe when I saw something I’d only seen once before in his eyes: joy. The only other time I’d seen it was when I’d lied to him because I wanted him to have some peace of mind. He’d known I was lying but hadn’t cared; I’d lied because I loved him. 

“These past ten years with you have been the best of my life,” he told me and I preened as I grinned; he’d lived a very long life.

“I want it to always be like this,” I told him. “I at least want to always feel this way when I look at you.”

“What do you feel, Rainbow Girl?” 

“Complete,” I said after a moment of thought so I could find the right word. 

He was still exultant when he leaned down and kissed me, tender at first before growing hot and hungry.

“I seriously need to fuck you now, Mac,” he growled.

“Soon,” I assured him.

I preened a little when I thought about what he was looking at: a Barbie-lookalike he knew had knives hidden all over her with the Spear of Destiny and a gun holstered to her legs, rounds of ammunition in her pockets and belt.

A woman ready for anything and anyone that came at her. A woman he’d trained to be ready for anything. A woman who could drive him bugfuck crazy and was deeply and firmly embedded under his skin.

The woman who had been prepared to remake the world for him. The woman who existed outside of all rules for him. The mother of his child.

His beast saw its mate, a monster who could turn off every emotion so she could do what needed to be done.

Barrons saw his sun, moon, and stars. 

His Rainbow Girl. 

*His* woman. 

———————————

If you liked that, you should start reading. Major spoilers if you’ve never read the books. Most can be found on Amazon for less than $10. I recommend them to everyone I meet. This is still a good read if you haven’t read them. I give plenty of explanation throughout. 

Enjoy!

The Court of Dreams

(Anything in asterisks is meant to be italicized.)


"MacKayla," Masdann said after a while, placing a hand on her shoulder. He was afraid she would get stuck in that possibility if he let her watch for too long. His touch was enough to bring her out of it and she shuddered. He withdrew his hand as she turned to him.


"A possibility. Specifically one where Cruce had not thought to create someone like me." 


She shivered like she was still feeling the effects of the brutal cold of the Unseelie prison.


"Someone made from the essence of Jericho Barrons, or someone who can traverse and manipulate the Dreaming?" she asked, frowning a little.


"Both. It's best if you keep focused on me. I'd prefer you take my hand or my arm whenever you wish to look around so I can keep you anchored. Telling Barrons his Rainbow Girl got lost in the Dreaming is not a possibility I'd wish to experience." He held out his arm to her and she slipped hers through it.


"No, I can't imagine that going over well for anyone," she said with a smirk. "Why don't you show me around while we talk?"


"As you wish," he said with a nod before they started to meander. "Though, as I said, there isn't much to show. And I can't imagine you've come to visit me alone just to see my court."


"No, I haven't," she admitted. "I've come to ask you again to be a member of my High Council."


"And I still see no reason for me to accept," he told her. "I have no subjects in my court and I am content with the power I have. Besides, it is not the wisest course of action. The other members will assume you favor me above them because of the striking resemblance I bear to your consort. I will only cause you more problems."


"Actually, you're causing me problems by *not* being on it." He stopped and looked down at her curiously. "Your lands are shrouded in mystery, as are you. You almost never visit anyone else's court and have prevented anyone from visiting yours."


"Yes, I've explained that to them. Thoroughly." It amused him that she still bore her emotions so visibly on her face. "But they're growing suspicious. They may have their emotions back, making them less petty, but they still enjoy court politics. I know there will come a day where I'm going to need all the allies I can get. Winter may have gotten a reset and has forgotten the punishment she endured under the previous queen at the hands of her lover and her best friend, but she's still as devious as ever. I can count on Christian and Sean and Jayne but I'd like another ally."


"Ryodan couldn't care less about the court and Barrons is tired of telling him to show up. Besides, I'm not sure how much longer I can keep the others at bay. I'd rather not have anyone saber rattling so soon after coming together. Even having Barrons speak on your behalf—" She stopped speaking when he suddenly looked away, as if he was hearing something she couldn't.


"Forgive me, MacKayla," he said when he turned back. "I must attend to something. In my absence, I think you'll enjoy this possibility." He waved his hand and the wall rippled as he summoned a vision he had seen the other night that had made him laugh. "I shan't be a moment."


"Who even uses words like 'shan't'?" he heard her mutter as he sifted away.


Lucid Two, Chapter Eight