As Quinn would say, holy shit. “He can shift?”
“Into a griffin, apparently.” Father nods. “I’ve never heard of a fae being able to do that.”
“Me neither.”
“After Zander appeared, he ordered all his men to retreat. He helped us find our people. He’s the real hero here.”
“And that’s why he’s wearing borrowed clothes,” I conclude, looking at my cousin with new appreciation. “I’ll go have a word with him.”
As I approach Zander, I study him. Most of his father’s blood has been cleaned off, but there are remnants left on his neck and ears. His shoulders are slumped, and I have sympathy for him. No matter how strained his relationship with his father was, it couldn’t have been easy to do what he did.
That could’ve been me sitting alone with my guilt and sorrow. It would’ve been, if it wasn’t for Quinn.
“King Zander,” I greet my cousin formally, taking a seat next to him on my throne. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for my kingdom. We’re in your debt.”
“No, King Kirian,” he responds flatly, void of emotion. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I do,” I insist. “I’m grateful for your bravery and your sacrifice.”
“No offense, but I didn’t murder my father for you.” He finally looks in my direction, his golden eyes unfocused, just like mine used to be.
But I see relief there.
I mistook his posture for remorse, and now I understand the reality. “You hated him that much, huh?”
“Yes. But it wasn’t for myself either. I did this for my mother.”
“Queen Rowan asked you to do this?”
“No.” Letting out a humorless chuckle, Zander runs a hand over the side of his head where his hair is buzzed. Since it’s so hot in the Day Realm, shorter hair styles are common. Men typically keep a few inches on top, and he spears his fingers through the dark strands there. “She hated him, but she’s too tender-hearted to wish death on anyone. I made the decision on my own. That bastard kidnapped her from the human realm, threw her in a harem full of other unwilling women, and the only reason he picked her as his mate is because she’s the one who got pregnant first.”
“I’m aware of the history.” If there’s one thing I hate hearing about, it’s a man forcing himself on a woman.
I glance over at the females on the stairs. Intermittently, their families are being ushered in to retrieve them. The reunions are tear-filled and bittersweet. While the girls are happy to be reunited with their loved ones, their haunted eyes tell of unspeakable crimes against them.
When I hunt down the men who bought them like merchandise, they’ll pay with their lives.
“I felt his spine sever.” Zander makes a slicing motion across his neck. “You know the resistance and the crack of bone?”
“Yes, I do.” I’ve beheaded enough people to know exactly what he’s talking about. But none of the people I’ve killed were family and I didn’t do it with my own teeth. Or beak, in his case.
“I enjoyed it,” he adds, sounding surprised by his own bloodlust. “That’s sick, isn’t it?”
I’m not sure how to answer him. King Zarid was a different level of evil. If someone as good-natured as Zander felt the need to end him, then his death was earned.
“You did what you had to do. It’s as simple as that.” I lean back, relaxing in the seat. “Why take action now, though? Because of all the Night Realm people he took?”
Zander shakes his head. “Because of you.”
“Me?”
“Well, you and your mate. I heard the curse is broken. It gave me hope for myself. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought of ending my own life, of leaving this cruel world behind. At least if I was dead, I wouldn’t have to watch my mother suffer or exist as a useless prince. But now… there’s a chance I could be happy.”
“Zander,” I start, not sure what to say.
I don’t know what it’s like to have nothing to live for. I’ve always had Quinn. Even when I didn’t know she was my soul mate, she was the best aspect of my life. She gave me something to look forward to. Honestly, I don’t know what my mental state might’ve been if I didn’t have her all these years.
Zander holds up a hand to stop me. “I don’t want your pity. I’m going to be fine.” Sighing, he places the crown on his head. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? I’ve come here in seek of your aid, King Kirian. Though I wouldn’t blame you if you turn me down.”
“Just Kirian,” I request. “We’re family. If we can end this rift between our realms, I’ll do it. You’re not your father, Zander. You’ll be a good ruler.”
“I wish I had as much faith in myself as you do, but I’m afraid we’ve got more than one mess on our hands. The distilled Day water—it was my invention.” He grimaces. “When all the other men were out training and fighting, I was in the library, studying history and alchemy. I had good intentions, amplifying the concentration of Day water. There are healing powers in it, and with the plague starting up again—”
“The plague is back?” Shit. Shit, shit, shit. “It’s the coven. They’ve been causing trouble.”
He gives a curt nod. “The first case popped up over a year ago. It’s affected about a hundred females in the southern part of the realm. Ninety-five deaths—the same mortality rate as last time. We’ve tried to contain it by quarantine. While that’s helped to slow it down, it hasn’t stopped the spread. Yet another village got hit last month. All those mothers, sisters, wives… lost.”
“The water—this Glow—does it heal them?”
“No. That’s the worst of it. It doesn’t work. I created a dangerous concoction that doesn’t even help for the reason which it was created. Word has gotten out now. Everyone wants some. Secret distilleries are popping up every day. There’s an underground network of distributors.”
“So you have an incurable plague, a widespread addiction problem, and witches who are after your fated mate,” I sum it up.
“My fated mate?” He turns a pointy ear toward me, as if he didn’t hear me correctly. “She’s in danger?”
“I have reason to believe so. You wouldn’t happen to know who she is? Where she is?”
“Not a clue.”
“Well, there’s a chance the witches don’t either. I can’t say for sure. But when they find out… Let’s just say it’d be best if you got to her first.”
“Strike,” he mutters under his breath, scratching the dark scruff on his jaw. The static electricity from his profanity sparks against my shoulder, and he sends me an apologetic look. “Sorry. And on top of everything, the female auctions still continue. I assume they’ll only get worse now that the sickness is back.”
“How can we assist you?”
“Soldiers and doctors would be a start. But no female fae. It’s too dangerous for them to be around the disease.”
“I know a troll who might be able to lend his medical services. He was already knowledgeable about the distilled Day water. I’ll have Torius round up a team. You’ll get what you need.”
“Thank you.” Zander heaves out a breath, seeming lighter as he sits up straight.
“I want to help.” Quinn’s soft voice comes from behind me, and I roll my eyes to the ceiling.
This infuriating girl. I knew she was near. I felt the vibrations in my soul, but I simply assumed she wanted to listen to our conversation, not offer herself up as a sacrifice. Although she isn’t fae yet, there’s no guarantee she wouldn’t catch this illness.
I grit my teeth. “I forbid it, Quinn.”
Coming closer, she places her hand on my shoulder and levels me with those chocolate eyes. “I’m queen now, right?”
I know where she’s going with this, and I won’t have it. “Yes, but my answer is still no.”
“I didn’t come to start a lovers’ quarrel,” Zander interrupts, holding his hands out in a placating gesture as he gets to his feet. “Besides, the Day Realm m
ight be too dangerous for you anyway. There will be backlash for my father’s death. He had many faithful followers who enjoyed his lack of law enforcement. They’ll likely retaliate.”
His discouraging speech seems to instill doubt in Quinn.
Frowning, she asks, “Will there be a civil war?”
“Possibly. While I appreciate your offer, the soldiers and doctors are all we require for now.” A half-smile ticks up on his face. “Just enjoy each other. I know I would if I’d found my mate.”
As he walks away, I pull Quinn onto my lap and nuzzle her neck. Inhaling her sweet scent, I practically purr as my hands roam her thighs.
“Kirian. People are looking at us,” she scolds lightly.
“Let them watch. Let them see how much I love my mate.”
Giggling, she leans back, giving me a view of her beautiful face. I brush a thumb over her freckled cheek before tracing a pattern over the bridge of her nose.
When I touch a few spots above her mouth, she licks her lips. Her tongue grazes my finger, and my cock roars to life.
“The gnomes,” she starts, trying to distract me. “They’re asleep in the kitchen. After finishing off three gallons of butterscotch pudding and some scones, they couldn’t keep their eyes open.”
“Good.” I decide to stop torturing us both and keep my hands still, because she’s right—we have serious matters to discuss.
“The girls.” Quinn anxiously chews her lip. “Should I go talk to them? I don’t know what to say.”
We both look over to see the noble family who sheltered Quinn while I tried to defeat Gia. They collect their daughter, who seems to be the youngest of the bunch.
“Her name is Isla,” my mate tells me, her eyes filled with worry. “She needs therapy or something. They all do.”
Anger flares in me again, but I push it down. I need to be calm and rational right now.
Strategic.
“Let’s let their families take them home first,” I murmur. “We’ll call a council meeting to discuss how we should proceed. Above all else, our kingdom needs justice.”
“Our kingdom,” she repeats, giving me a soft smile. “I like the sound of that.”
I plant a swift kiss on her lips. “Get used to it, my queen.”
Quinn
Three weeks later
“Your Majesty, stop peeking,” Isla hisses, fussing over my hair. “Someone might see you.”
Quirking an eyebrow, I shoot her an amused look. “Are you sure no one’s allowed to see me in my dress before the ceremony? Where I come from, it’s just the groom.”
“I’m sure. The groom has to see you before anyone else. Or the union could be jinxed.”
“Except for you,” I tease. “You saw me.”
Wrinkling her nose, she doesn’t seem to catch my playful tone. “I’m your lady in waiting. That’s different.”
Kirian and I are fated mates. Our relationship is the epitome of good luck and fortune, and I highly doubt it would change simply because a guest caught a premature glimpse of me.
But I decide to humor my attendant, dropping the curtain as she goes back to placing honeysuckle flowers in my half-updo.
The wedding traditions here are similar to the human realm, but some of them are just slightly off. It’s almost like someone played a game of telephone, and certain details got lost in translation.
As Isla concentrates on getting every strand of hair on my head just right, I study her youthful face. Her porcelain skin is framed by long blond hair, and she’s so serious. I wonder if she was like that before the Day Realm clusterfuck, or if she’s been irrevocably changed because of it.
During the council meeting we had about the victims the day after their return, I’d suggested everyone get two special requests. One for justice and one for personal gain.
I quickly learned fae justice is very different than where I come from.
Not pulling any punches, Isla had asked that her rapist be publicly executed—beheaded, not spiked, which was a mercy on her part. Wish granted. And she wasn’t the only one who chose that fate for her attacker. Many of the men who bought the females didn’t waste any time trying to impregnate them. They had to be punished.
Although I was happy those bastards got what they deserved and the women got closure, I stayed inside on that bloody day. I just can’t stomach such gory scenes.
Isla’s second request was to be given a high position in the castle, and Kirian suggested a personal companion for me. At fifteen, she’s old enough to be hired by the palace. I’ll admit I was skeptical in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if she’d stare at my freckles or judge me for not having pointy ears. But she’s been nothing but respectful, and now I honestly don’t know how I could go a day without her assistance. She knows I hate dresses with corsets, how I like my tea, and all my favorite foods. Although we have cultural differences, I’ve been enjoying her company.
“It’s just so pretty out there,” I say, turning so she can stick one more pin in the braids at the back of my head. “It’s hard not to look.”
“Believe me, I want to peek, too. Dawn and Dusk is beyond my wildest imagination. But we have three more minutes, so we’ll just have to wait. Sorry, Queen Quinn.”
“Just Quinn,” I remind her.
I can’t get used to people calling me Queen. I still think the title plus my name sounds ridiculous. Maybe someday it won’t bother me, but for now, I prefer something less formal.
“One last thing.” Isla’s yellow eyes glitter with excitement as she wiggles her fingers in the air.
A small box lifts from a stool in our canvas tent. I gawk as it floats over to us. Seriously, I’m not sure when I’ll stop being shocked by her power to move objects.
It lands gently in my hands. When I open the wooden lid, I gasp when I see the necklace nestled on a bed of dark-blue velvet. “My marble.”
Golden prongs hold onto the sphere, and it dangles from a shiny chain. I pick it up, pressing the smooth glass to my palm. I roll it back and forth against my skin and smile.
Grinning, Isla claps her hands. “Surprise! It was my idea. King Kirian has one, too. You match. Isn’t that great? These will be your objects of commitment.”
Kirian had explained to me that we wouldn’t exchange rings. Instead, we’d have something more meaningful. Something totally personal to us.
“Thank you,” I breathe out, touched. “I couldn’t have thought of anything better than this.”
My compliment makes Isla do a happy jig, and I’m glad to see her smiling. Maybe we’re good for each other. She’s told me before that I give her motivation to keep going, and I admire her determination to move on. If I’d gone through what she did, I’m not sure I’d be able to bounce back so quickly.
She’s resilient, creative, and oh my God.
I think I have a friend. A real, female friend, close to my age.
When I jump forward to hug her, she squeaks with surprise, but it only takes her a second to return the embrace.
I never thought I’d be the kind of person who cries on my wedding day, but I sniffle as my nose begins to sting.
A barrage of emotions suddenly hit me. I’m incredibly happy. I have the love of my life, all the luxury I could ask for, and people who are becoming important to me.
But I’m also a little sad. This is such a big moment, and my parents aren’t here to witness it. It’s only been a month since the spaghetti and meatball dinner, and I already miss them so much.
“There, there.” Isla pats my back. As if she can read my mind, she adds, “We all think of you as part of us. You belong here. Your kingdom is your family.”
The neck prickle happens, and I can feel the truth to her words.
Turns out, I really do have a power and it’s extremely useful.
I’m a living lie-detector test.
Kirian’s had me sit in on several interrogations already. Instead of torturing the truth out of someone, he looks to me. I can just give a nod or a shak
e of my head, and he decides what to do from there.
People have been calling me the Queen of Honesty, and I gotta say—I kinda like the nickname.
In the distance, a harp and a flute begin playing music, signaling the start of the ceremony.
I pull away from Isla as I wipe the wetness from under my eyes. I’m not wearing much makeup, but I don’t want to ruin the little I have on.
“One last check. Everything has to be perfect.” Isla flits around me, smoothing the white silk of my gown and fluffing the short train. She makes sure the pearl buttons in the back are secured, she runs her fingers over where the waist is cinched with a stardust belt, and she adjusts the gauzy shoulder straps.
“This is really happening,” I mutter to myself as she clasps the new necklace on me.
“Yes, it is.” A honeysuckle bouquet is shoved into my hands, and then Isla grasps my shoulders, turning me so I can see myself in a full-length mirror.
Well. I’m stunning. Shimmery stardust acts as my eyeshadow. My lashes are coated with mascara. I chose a dusky rose pink for my lips. My freckles aren’t covered, and I wear them proudly now.
“Beautiful and ready,” Isla announces, partly for me but mostly for the guards standing outside the tent. She gives my shoulder a pat. “Smash a leg.”
Biting my lip to hide a smile, I don’t tell her the saying is actually “break a leg” and it’s meant for show business, not weddings.
The canvas flaps part to reveal my entourage of a dozen soldiers, including Torius and Kai. They all have their backs turned and their eyes averted, because Kirian’s walking toward me to get the first look.
And boy, does he look.
His heated gaze roams my body from head to toe as he licks his lips.
My nipples pucker beneath the smooth fabric, and I know he can see them because I’m not wearing a bra. As his eyes zero in on that part of me, his pupils dilate until the lavender is almost completely black.
I like that he’s out of his battle clothes. With his white button-up shirt and light-colored pants, it reminds me of what he used to wear when he’d come visit me in my forest. His hair is still short on the sides, and he has tight braids along his scalp. Probably Astrid’s doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she coaxed him in to playing beauty salon.
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