My chest squeezed. Queen Aurelia didn’t remember that the sea elves had been at her doorstep mere weeks ago. She didn’t remember we had a ceremony to mourn Lugh’s death, and that Red had been here, running things as best as he could under the circumstances. She didn’t remember we had found Lugh alive, but ill with the sea plague, that the palace had been quarantined, that I had been sick too, and everything else after that. I was glad she didn’t remember our suffering and our worry, but I didn’t like seeing her unraveling like this.
Lugh glanced at me, seated by my side, then at Maize, who often had unshed tears in her eyes. The crown prince cleared his throat before smiling at his mother. “Yes, Mother. I’m eating well.”
“Then, when will we have the wedding?” she asked.
It was like a punch to my gut. Since Lugh's recovery, we hadn’t talked about our betrothal. We skirted the subject while working to get the kingdom back on its feet.
Beside me, Lugh shifted his weight, visibly bothered by the question.
“Oh, Queen Aurelia,” my mother started, surprising me. “There is still much to do after all that fighting and the illness.”
The queen narrowed her eyes at my mother. “Fighting? Illness?”
“Mother!” I hissed.
My mother put a hand over her mouth and stared at me, her eyes huge. “Sorry,” she mouthed.
“Nothing, Mother.” Maize took her mother’s hand and patted it. “It’s nothing. Would you like more tea?” She reached for the teapot, but her handmaid stepped up and did it for her.
But that had done the trick. The queen’s fragile mind shifted to the tea and biscuits, and she forgot about the fighting and the illness once more.
The rest of the afternoon was tense and long. Finally, when it was time to leave, Lugh called me to talk to him. My mother and Jora went ahead to the carriage and waited for me—I had returned to my parents’ house now that everything was back to normal—and I followed Lugh to the gallery, where several oil portraits of his ancestors in gilded frames adorned the walls.
In the center of the room, Lugh turned to me. He looked much better since he was cured from the sea plague. His eyes were warm and his smile was kind, but there was a hollow in cheeks that wasn’t there before, and his skin seemed pale. The healer had told us he might not be as strong as before, but he was healthy. That was all that mattered.
“It seems the rebel prince left again,” Lugh said.
I frowned, wondering where he was going with this subject. “I don’t think he likes to be called that.”
“I know, but you can’t deny it fits him right. Once again, he left without a word, like a ghost.”
“I’m sure he has his reasons,” I said, my tone snappier than I would like. Why was I defending Red? He didn’t deserve my protection.
“Blair,” Lugh started, his voice low. Even though no one seemed to be around, we both knew we were never truly alone. “I’ve been avoiding this conversation, but it’s only causing us more pain.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He let out a long sigh. “Redlen is your mate, isn’t he?”
I stilled. My first instinct was to deny it, but where that would lead me? This was Lugh, one of my oldest friends, and someone I cared about too much. “Yes, he is.”
“I knew it.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “To be honest, I thought Redlen and you would be mates since we were young. Anyone could see how he looked at you, how the two of you seemed to gravitate to each other. It was hard not to see it.” He pressed his lips together. “But when our parents arranged for our betrothal, I was blindsided. I wasn’t expecting it, and it took me a long time to react to it. By then, Redlen was already gone.”
That was a surprise. “You tried to break the betrothal?”
Lugh nodded. “I did, but our parents were enamored with the idea. And … I confess that after Red left and we began spending time together, I understood their decision. Don’t get me wrong. As much as I hoped to fall in love with you and you with me, that didn’t happen, but I could see how well we worked together, how much you cared for the kingdom, for our fae. You would make a fabulous queen.”
Despite everything, I felt warmth spreading over my cheeks. I hadn’t expected a compliment from Lugh, or anyone else for that matter.
But his words weren’t lost in me. “You said would make … what do you mean?”
“I can’t force you to marry me, Blair. Because let’s face it, it was a deal between our parents, not us. We are older now, wiser I hope, and we don’t need to do this to ourselves.” He took a step closer and held one of my hands in between his. “I have immense respect for you. I’m honored to have you as my fiancée, and I do love you, but as a friend, a partner, an equal. Just not as a lover. I don’t want you to marry me if you would rather be with Red.”
My chest squeezed, then expanded and I took in a deep breath. I felt the same way. “Thank you for taking my opinion and my feelings into consideration.” Because our parents and the council didn't care about my opinions or feelings. I held his hands tight. “I want to work for the good of our kingdom. I know I can do more for our fae, but …”
“I understand.” He nodded. “Let me assure you of one thing: You might not become queen, Blair, but you’ll always have a place here. In fact, I’ll make you a royal advisor. An official title to go with all I know you can still do for the Autumn Court.”
I smiled. “I like that.”
“I knew you would.”
I withdrew my hands from his. “What about you? What will you do?”
Lugh squared his shoulders. “I’ll run this country. I might even talk to my mother and convince her to pass the crown. It’s time for her to rest. Meanwhile, I’ll keep my eyes and my heart open, and hopefully one day I’ll also find my mate and I’ll make her my queen.”
I liked that idea. “I’ll cheer when that happens.”
“Thanks.” He stared into my eyes. “What will you do now?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure, but when I find your brother, I’m going to kick his ass.”
A loud laugh bubbled past Lugh’s lips. “I would like to see that.”
27
Red
I had lost my mind there for a moment.
Like a coward, I had left the Oren Palace once more. Holding on to the excuse of escorting the sea elves back to their ships, I stayed back and didn’t return. At first, I told myself I was making sure all the sea elves left, that no one else was hiding in the fortress, and the coast, and the forests. I scoured the kingdom, eager to make sure every fae was safe.
But I was deluding myself. Hiding.
Almost three weeks after we left Masarn, Lennox and I were camped in the middle of the forest after searching it for almost ten hours—we had divided the forest into sections and did one a day.
Lennox turned the squirrel skewered on top of the fire. For days now, I could feel he was holding back something. Every time I asked what was wrong, he snapped at me, saying nothing was wrong.
Finally, that night, he cracked.
He threw a small branch into the fire and got up to his feet. “I’m done with this.”
I stared at him from across the fire. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I wasn’t. “What do you mean?”
“Being your best friend sucks right now,” he said. “I understand things are hard at the capital, but are you really going to do this again? How many years are you planning on hiding this time?” I lowered my gaze to the fire. “I stayed with you. Because I’m your friend, but also because I wanted to make a name for myself. I’m known throughout the kingdom, rust, throughout Wyth because of you, and I’ll forever be thankful for that, but I don’t want to spend the next decade camping in damp forests and eating critters.” He kicked at the fire, sending dirt toward our dinner. I couldn’t say I cared. “I want to go back, take my place in the army in the capital, and stay there.” He paused. His shoulders sagged a little. “I wish you wou
ld join me.”
“I can’t,” I muttered.
Lennox nodded. He let out a sigh. “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you. Goodbye, for now, Red.”
He shapeshifted into his fox and disappeared into the night.
When I was alone in the near darkness with a ruined dinner and a quiet forest, I allowed myself to think and feel. For weeks, I had been pushing everything—everything—back. Ignoring it all. I wanted to move, to run, to do something, to feel useful and busy so these thoughts and feelings wouldn’t find me.
It was time to stop running.
And once I had allowed the thoughts and feelings to come, they didn’t stop. A pain started in my chest, a deep hurt that I had been nurturing. Lennox was right. I was a rusting coward. Hiding in this rusting forest while my mate was beside the future king, being roped into a future where I couldn’t reach.
No, I couldn’t let that happen. I hadn’t fought for her hard enough the first time. I couldn’t make that same mistake.
I put out the fire, discarded my dinner so an animal could find it, and turned into my fox. The first step was the hardest.
I ran back to the Oren Palace.
I arrived at the palace’s front courtyard after two days and nights of running almost nonstop. I was dirty, tired, and sweaty, but I didn’t care. Not right now.
Still in my fox form, I crossed the inner gates—the guards recognized me right away—and saw as Lugh led Blair from the palace’s entrance to her family’s carriage, parked a few feet from the front stairs. He was holding her hand.
A band of jealousy tightened in my chest.
They saw me coming and halted.
Blair dropped Lugh’s hand. “Red?” she asked, her gaze incredulous.
I shifted into my fae form and approached them. “I’m late, but I’m here.” I reached for Blair and wrapped my hand around her wrist. I pulled her closer to me. “I’m sorry, Lugh. I can’t let you marry her. She’s my mate.”
Around us, the guards and pages and handmaids had gone utterly silent. Even Blair’s mother, waiting inside the carriage, was shocked.
“Red—”
“No, let me finish,” I interrupted my brother before he could protest. “I’ve been stupid, trying to ignore my feelings, but I can’t anymore. I love Blair. I’m her mate, and I would rather die than see her with someone else. Even if that’s you.”
Blair wrapped both her arms around mine and rested her chin on my upper arm. “Finally, you’ve come to your senses.”
I stared at her. Then at Lugh. Why wasn't he protesting? Why was she holding on to me without at least explaining things to Lugh? “What’s happening?” I asked in a low voice.
Lugh chuckled. “We broke the engagement, you idiot. We haven’t announced it yet.”
My eyes bugged. “What?”
Lugh explained to me about their conversation, and as his words sank in, my chest felt lighter and lighter. I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my lips. I turned to Blair. “Is this true?”
She nodded, her amber eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “It is true.” Then, a frown appeared between her brows. She punched me in the shoulder. “But you deserve a beating. You left me again.”
“I know, I know.” I held both her hands in mine. “I was stupid and feeling guilty. But I was wrong.” I tugged her closer and she came, no resistance at all. “But I’m here now, and I’m not leaving unless you tell me to. And even then, I might argue about it.”
With a new smile, Blair stepped into me and cupped my face. “Finally.”
I leaned into her and rested my forehead on hers. “I love you, Blair. I’ve loved you since we were younglings, and I didn’t even know what love was.”
“I love you too, you big stupid rake.”
I laughed.
“What? No!” her mother protested from inside the carriage. She leaned closer to the door and pointed her finger at us. “That’s unacceptable. Blair, you’re betrothed to Prince Lugh. You’ll be queen!”
Blair straightened and faced her mother. “Not anymore.”
“But …” Her mother’s face fell. “You want to be queen.”
“I want to serve the fae of the Autumn Court,” Blair said. “I don’t need to be a queen for that.”
“I’ve made her an advisor to the crown,” Lugh explained. By his smile, he was proud. I was too. “As for you.” He glanced at me and the amusement left his face. “I could go on and on about how stupid you are, but I know you weren’t yourself the past few weeks.” He took a step closer to me. “Let’s forget that and move on from here. When we were younger, we discussed you serving as my commander. Then you left. I tried to lead the army, but I can’t anymore. Though I’m in good health, I’m still weak and the healer has started to think it’s permanent.” He let out a sigh. “I need you. I need you to stay here, to be my commander.” He glanced at Blair and me. “With the both of you by my side, I’m sure we’ll do great things for our kingdom.”
I glanced at Blair and she nodded at me. How could I say no to that?
I nodded. “I’ll stay.”
Six Months Later
Blair
The ceremony couldn’t have been prettier. If someone asked me, I would say my wedding to Red had been more elegant and happier than Lugh’s coronation a couple of months back, but perhaps I was biased.
In the center of the ballroom, Red spun me under his arm, pushing me away for half a second, then he pulled me back to him, holding me tight in his arms. He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help smiling back at him. He looked so dashing in a dark brown suit with red embroidery. His face was clean shaven, and his hair had grown. He wore it pulled back in a loose ponytail at his nape.
As for me, I had tried going for a simpler approach to the whole thing, but with Queen Aurelia showing an enthusiasm we hadn’t expected from her, and my mother’s pampering, I decided to let them dote on me. After all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. I could live with it. But in the end, I fell in love with my elegant white dress and its fine burgundy details and crystals. My red hair had been pulled into an elaborate bun behind my back, with half of it falling down in curls.
The ballroom followed a similar theme with white, brown, and dark red taking over the place. I always thought the place was grandiose and beautiful with its rough wooden archways and chandeliers, the red and orange vines creeping up the walls, and the smooth, dark floors. But with the added tables and their orange and red centerpieces, the rustic wooden chairs, the golden cutlery, the ballroom felt enchanted.
Mahaera had hosted the ceremony and officiated our wedding in a room full of friendly faces, faces that now stood around the dance floor, watching as Red and I danced our first dance as a married couple.
As we spun around, I saw them all. King Cadewyn, Queen Amber, and Princess Chiara, Cade’s sister, from the Winter Court. Queen Hayley and General Ashton from the Spring Court. King Varian, Queen Layla, and former Queen Natsia from the Summer Court. Prince Nox and Princess Amaya from the Night Court. King Tenen and Queen Hemera from the Day Court.
We had invited fae from all over Wyth, but some hadn’t responded. That was the case of King Altan and Queen Zora from the Dawn Court who, after stepping back when Vasant threatened to destroy the Spring Court, decided to disappear inside their own kingdom. We hadn’t heard news from them ever since.
From here, I could also see Willow beside Princess Maize, and Queen Aurelia with them. On her other side stood King Lugh and Gaia, the young librarian he had once fallen in love with. He had found her working in a small village on the border of the kingdom and had offered her a job in the palace’s library. She had accepted it right away, and since then, I had seen them walking the palace’s courtyards together often. Because he was king, Lugh was courting her slowly and by the book. I wished she was the one for him and they would soon mate. We could use another wedding like this in six months, or a year.
Along with the royal family were my parents, Jora, and Sage. My fath
er looked interested in the event, while my mother and Jora both had handkerchiefs in their hands and frequently wiped at their eyes. Sage looked stoic as ever, though I had seen him sniffling once during the ceremony.
“Did I tell you you look ridiculously gorgeous in that dress?” Red asked, his voice low.
My attention snapped back to him. “No.” Yes, he had. Several times. I just liked to hear him say it.
“If this wasn’t our party and we were entertaining all these fae, I would whisk you away to our chambers right now.” The glint in his eyes grew darker with desire.
A delicious shiver rolled down my spine.
As much as I wanted to leave with him right now, we stayed until the end of the reception. The dance floor opened, our friends and family joined us. Red and I danced with countless fae, we ate scrumptious food, drank a little, chatted with everyone, laughed often, and danced more.
It had been a beautiful and heartwarming day.
Dutiful hosts, Red and I stayed in the ballroom until the last guest left. Then, hand in hand, we walked through the palace’s corridors to our chambers. Usually, Sage and Lennox accompanied us wherever we went, but tonight they had not. But they knew that with the many guards stationed along the palace’s corridor, there was no need to worry about us.
Red and I entered our new chambers. Red closed the door and turned to me. He held my hands in his and looked into my eyes. “Blair …” He cleared his throat. “There are no words to describe how I feel right now. I’ve always loved you, but I never thought this would happen.” He squeezed my hands. “I’m the happiest fae alive; I can guarantee you that.”
I smiled, my heart full. Red wasn’t big on words or feelings. The fact that he wanted to voice this made me proud of him. Of us.
“I love you too, my rebel prince,” I whispered. I guided his hands around my waist. “Now shut up, rip this dress off me, and kiss me.”
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