Chapter 27: Seelie Versus Unseelie

“The Unseelie are the ones who have made people dance themselves to death.”

My mouth fell open. “You mean that legend is true?”

She winced and nodded. “Yes, but it isn’t entirely malicious intent. In some ways the Unseelie are like spoiled children who play too rough with their toys.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t make them sound any better.”

“They like to dance and they don’t have the same physical limitations as humans. Most of the incidents were because they didn’t take that into consideration. There have been a few who have done things like that deliberately over the centuries.

“For the most part though, the Unseelie that exist today prefer to not interact with humans at all, well, except to have sex with them, and even then that’s sort of a kink and not a universal trait amongst them.”

I raised an eyebrow. “They like to have sex with humans?”

“Some of them do, although there are more Seelie who do since they are the ones most likely to interact with the human realm. Humans, Shifters, other supernatural beings. The Unseelie are just a bit more hedonistic about it when they indulge.”

She shrugged again. “At any rate, we will have to have two wedding ceremonies, as custom dictates that those in the line of succession can only be married on one of the solstices; the summer solstice for the Seelie and the winter solstice for the Unseelie.”

“How will we decide who goes first?”

“It has to be the Unseelie. The kinky element you referred to is the traditional wedding attire and marking ritual. The Unseelie have to be marked in front of witnesses. The more powerful you are, the more witnesses are required.

“For the royal family this means it has to be performed in front of basically the entire court. The Seelie, on the other hand, feel that the marking ritual is something that should be private. It was determined years ago that my Unseelie ceremony would happen first.”

“I have to bite you in front of a bunch of people?”

“Mmm…yes.”

“Oh my gods, that is kinky.” I was aroused and embarrassed by the thought.

“I haven’t gotten to the really kinky part yet.”

“You’re joking.” I was almost afraid to find out considering light bondage and a few swats to the butt were as kinky as I’d ever gotten.

“No. See, the Unseelie believe that the marks should be visible at all times. It’s a custom that dates from when the Fae wore nothing. As I mentioned earlier the Fae mark with their hands which gives them a wide range of ways they can mark their Others.

“Backs, necks, arms, shoulders, chests, breasts, abdomens, and legs are all very common choices for where to mark.” Ellery screwed up her face in thought and then went on.

“Wrists, hands and feet are also fairly common, but not as much because of what the Unseelie enjoy wearing. Chokers are a really popular accessory.” She wrinkled her nose. “Some choices have been very unconventional over the years though.”

“Dare I ask what?”

“Lips, back of the thigh, inside of the thigh, hip bones, right above the butt, nipples.”

“Ah hell.”

“The only places that are strictly prohibited are genitals.”

I choked on air. “Well thank the gods for small favors,” I managed after I’d gotten myself under control.

Ellery bit her lower lip. “Yes, well, the clothing that is worn for the ceremony is dependent on where the couple has chosen to mark one another. You’ll get away with just wearing these tight fitting black pants and some jewelry.

“I will be trapped in some sort of cross between bondage wear and a costume for an evil queen. As I said, what I wear will be based on where you want to mark me.”

I mulled that over. It wasn’t my body that would be getting bitten so I felt it only fair she be given final say. “Where would you like me to mark you?”

“Well, since you have to bite me I was thinking about either my wrist or neck. I suppose that a place on my back would be okay too, but I really don’t want you to bite my breasts the way you’ll have to bite me to mark me. Where are your parents marked?”

“I have no fucking clue. Like I said, we never really discussed some of the particulars of the mating process in detail. Where would you like to mark me?”

“Fae marks look remarkably like tattoos. I’d been thinking it would look nice on your left pec, above your heart. That would be intimate and special, without being too kinky, and that way you would only have to worry about being shirtless when we’re dealing with Unseelie business.

“But we can pick wherever you’d like. I know that the Unseelie are beyond excited for our wedding. When it became known that my Other was a fox shifter it set off a year of celebrations.”

“What the hell for?” I asked, shocked to my toes. “I know foxes are cool, but a year’s worth of celebrations?”

“Foxes are sacred to the Unseelie, and there has only ever been one fox shifter to marry into the Thorn family and that was in,” Ellery paused to get the correct date, “1200 or there about.

“It brought about two centuries of great prosperity for the Unseelie. Plus, they’re vibrating with excitement over getting to see you bite me. Leprechauns have been laying odds on the location of my mark since it was leaked. That was when I was twelve.”

“Foxes are sacred to the Unseelie?”

“They are, along with bats, owls, snakes, and crows. That reminds me. Your parents can’t visit us when we’re with the Unseelie, because they will try to keep them there forever. I wouldn’t let them of course, but the temptation to seduce them would be strong.”

I grimaced in revulsion. “I really don’t want to think about my parents being seduced, so thanks for that mental picture. At any rate, I don’t think I’d want them to watch me bite you while we’re half naked. What about the Seelie ceremony?”

“Oh, that one is much more like human weddings. They are always outdoors in the Golden Arbor, and the only dress requirement is that we don’t wear shoes. There will be a cleric, and rings, vows, music, and flower girls if we want them. I’d like my two little sisters to be our flower girls, and possibly Emerson’s daughter, depending on how long we wait.”

She smiled softly. “I was the flower girl for Jojo and Sabrina’s wedding. The only other real difference between a Seelie ceremony and a human one is that it ends with our hands being bound together with a specially made cord and we have to kiss while our guests shower us with flowers. Both ceremonies are beautiful in their own way.”

“You’ve been to an Unseelie ceremony?” My eyebrows shot up in surprise. It didn’t sound kid friendly at all.

“Last year. Before that Mathair Mhor felt I was too young.”

“Who’s that?”

“Oh, my grandmother, the current queen.”

I let out a low whistle. “And all of this starts, in what, three weeks?”

“What? Oh no. Gods no. Mathair Mhor wants me to wait until I’m twenty, so we’ve got about three years.”

“That’s a relief. I was starting to freak out a little, not because I’m scared, but because that would be really soon. Call me old fashioned but the idea of getting married at eighteen before I’ve even finished high school doesn’t feel right.”

She pushed my hair off of my forehead. “When we do get married, we will be given many, many gifts. Some practical, others magical, and all of them special. There will be massive celebrations and festivities leading up to and following each ceremony. And once we’re married you will get a fancy title to match mine, and when I am queen you will be my prince consort.”

“What is your title, Ellery?” I asked with a lazy smile.

Her cheeks flushed with the faintest tinge of pink. “You have to promise not to laugh.”

“On my honor,” I replied solemnly.

“I have two titles, one in each court. To the Unseelie, I am Crown Princess Ellery, Duchess of Thorns. To the Seelie, I’m Princess Ellery, Duchess of…..” She murmured something and even with my hearing I couldn’t make out what she said.

“What was the last bit?”

“Oh gods, I hate it so much. I’m the Duchess of Milk and Honey.”

“No!” I struggled to keep from laughing, but it was obvious to Ellery I was losing that battle.

“Stop it.” She started to laugh. “It’s so awful! You promised you wouldn’t laugh.”

“I’m trying not to, but you’re laughing,” I cried, breaking up.

“Because it’s so awful! It makes me sound like I’m a breakfast treat.”

“Why on Earth would they give that title to you?” I asked after we’d both calmed down.

“There is no such thing as the Duke of Milk and Honey, only a Duchess. Furthermore, you can only have that title if you are born into the Sinclairs as a female, and then only if you’re the first born daughter of the current king or queen. I was the first female born into the family in two hundred years.

“Technically, I shouldn’t have to endure that bit of ridiculousness until Jojo is crowned king, but Papa’s council ruled that I should have it now. It’s supposedly a great honor. Having a Duchess of Milk and Honey is a sign of an additional blessing from the divinities.”

“So what will I be called by the Seelie if there can’t be a Duke of Milk and Honey?”

“Let me think. The last Duchess of M & H was named Evers and her Other was a member of the royal guard. What was he called? The Duke of Light and Shadows I think.”

I perked up. “That’s actually cool.”

“I know, right? Duchess of Milk and Honey. I mean honestly.” She shook her head in exaggerated annoyance.

“You do taste as sweet as honey.” I slid my hand onto her thigh.

“Do I? Which part of me?” she asked as she ran her hands over my chest.

I moved my hand farther up and began stroking her. “This part.” She moaned and spread her legs apart to give me more access which I took advantage of. “This part too,” I said as I slipped my index finger inside her.

When she was wet enough I slid my middle finger in to join the first one. She gasped and I drew the nipple nearest me into my mouth. “Is your body singing for me, Ellery?”

“It’s singing an aria, but I haven’t answered all of your questions,” she gasped out.

“You can answer a question I asked you last month.”

Ellery’s breathing grew heavier as I fingered her, brushing my thumb over her clit. “What…what question is that?”

I pulled my hands away and turned her onto her back. I got between her legs and lifted one and then the other up to my shoulders. “How flexible you are.”

“Alexander…” That was all she managed before I lifted her ass and buried myself in her.