I will be a strong, fearless queen.
But I’m not stupid. I know that I can’t make eye contact with Cillian unless I want my resolve disintegrating into dust. He trusts that I know what I’m doing but fears I could be wrong. But this is my calling and the bond will be there.The bond has to be there.
I feel the wind beginning to pick up as I start to ascend the steps to where Caspien and I will meet.
I finally make it to the top of the cracked steps that every Queen of Solevara before me has mounted. The sobering honor constricts my heart further. The wind fills me as I move forward.
I will bring peace back to the Fae. We will bring peace back to the Fae.
Caspien is dressed in a stark black suit with a matching shirt. I have to admit he pulls off the look well, even if he isn’t the prince I know should be walking towards.
His eyes glow, gleaming like his gaze could burn the whole place down. He’s emitting power, even more than normal, but something feels off about it. The energy feels different from the elements around us, from the magic I feel in my own body trying to fight to get out. I want to jerk my hands free.
As the full moon slowly shifts into place directly above our heads, the wind begins blowing, the bottom of my dress flowing in the breeze. It’s swirling around us, the rest of the sanctuary untouched. The moon’s light is shining brighter than I’ve ever seen, and my whole body feels like it’s beginning to vibrate.
I close my eyes and breathe in the wind. I have faith in what’s to come. I trust Gaia.
I will be a strong, fearless queen. We will bring peace to the Fae.
My magic seems to settle in my fingertips, and I let out a small sigh.
I inhale deeply as Cillian’s familiar scent swirls around me, caught up in the wind. Before I can relax into it, my magic surges up my arms towards my chest.
Caspien is curiously taking me in, unaffected by the energy that our Goddess is surrounding us with. The divine bond clicking into place is supposed to be the first step. I fill my lungs again and am engulfed by the scent of fresh spring water. I can instantly feel exactly where Cillian is. An invisible force is urging me towards him.
My knees go weak as the divine bond wash over every cell in my body. My magic is thrilled. My eyes fill with joyful tears as I look away from Caspien to Cillian.
Caspien follows my gaze to his twin. Heat courses through my body with each pump of my heart. Turning back to face Caspien, I brace for his anger—or shock. Instead, his mouth curls into the slightest smirk when he meets his brother’s gaze.
It’s all the confirmation I need. Caspien knew.
I smile straight at my divine mate—Cillian.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
NISSA
Panic fills my chest when I try to pull my hands back and Caspien tightens his grip.
Does he think Gaia’s big plan is to curse me to a life separated from my mate? I refuse to believe that.
But none of that changes that I’m still here, becoming Caspien’s queen.I need to be right about the next part too.
Kiel steps up to us and begins reading from a parchment. I can barely understand his words. It’s as if they were in a different language with how fast my thoughts are racing.
Something has my feet rooted to this spot on the altar, while my magic—stronger than ever—is fighting to go to Cillian. The trust I put in Gaia surges as his scent surrounds me. I can sense he’s fighting not to rush for me. Our bounded hearts are yearning for one another, an invisible string pulling us together.But he is trusting me.
My hand is crushed in Caspien’s grip. King Kiel’s voice is a drone as he reads from the ancient scroll. His eyes dart around the altar as his voice slows. I glance at Caspien, and the blood drains from my face. His eyes are full of rage and resentment as they turn from his father to his brother to me.
Pain explodes across my face. The back of his hand connects with my cheek, the force of the unexpected blow throwing my body sideways. I crumple to the ground, unsure whether it’s from pain or shock.
“This is your fault!” Caspien roars as sparks explode at the back of my eyes.
In an instant Cillian is kneeling in front of me. He cups my cheek, his gentle hand a soothing balm against my burning skin. My mate’s touch is an immediate antidote to any pain. I look into his eyes. Eyes that are dark with a mix of protectiveness and fury.
I have always felt at peace around Cillian, but this feeling is sacred, aligned in the stars. I close my fingers around his. I can feel the energy from the earth beginning to shift. Cillian runs his other hand over me, assessing me for injuries, so focused on me that he doesn’t seem to notice the vibration building underneath us.
