The omega nodded back, looking lost and found and several things in between. Donovan was pale. Disoriented. Shaking. It reminded Seath of someone who was going into a delayed shock.
“I am sure you will have much to talk about, and recover from.” She turned to the Councilors. “For what the opinion of the Seelie Queen is worth, if this gathering was to determine if the Northwest Pack owed anything to Taured for the broken bond, I would have to argue that is now a moot point, is it not?”
The Councilors looked one to another, so Greene once again stepped up.
“I agree, your majesty. It appears Lycan is the true Prince Donovan. Therefore, no bond was broken. No murder perpetrated by this pack. The Prince and Seath are mated, just as pledged and just as was foretold.”
“The greater issue may be the appropriating of likeness, but I think that is the Prince’s story to tell and his to ask for compensation.” The Queen inclined her head to Donovan.
Donovan nodded, trying to rise on shaking legs. But, Seath caught him, sweeping him up into his arms and keeping him close.
“When he is ready, perhaps?” Seath asked, his eyes barely able to move from watching his mate.
“Of course. There are threads left undone by what was revealed today, but the business at hand is concluded. However,” the Queen turned on Tremon as fast as a snake. “I trust that what was unseen has been seen here. Including your lack of involvement or knowledge in Morgan’s deception.”
Tremon began nodding furiously.
“But if,” the Queen’s face distorted from something beautiful to something ethereal and heavy and deadly, not unlike the UnSeelie Prince had done, “I were to find out differently, you might want to remember there is no realm I cannot enter. Not even a grain of sand under which I cannot search. I located Morgan, despite his best efforts, and you might want to reflect on that. If you rendered aid to his scheme, I would be forced to see that as an act of aggression against the Seelie Court.”
A silence filled the glen, even as her face returned to its previous beautiful countenance. Greene and Seath shared a look, careful not to project their thoughts.
The Councilor in the middle seemed to find her voice. “Of course. We dismiss any claims remaining against the Northwest Pack and leave it to the parties to settle the rest.”
Settle the rest. Seath’s mind spun with what that could mean. But for now, it had to mean getting his mate home to heal. Lycan’s—Donovan’s—mind may have been cleared of the spellbinding, but he could sense Donovan’s exhaustion. All the memories he had been protected from, those would be back now too. It was enough to challenge anyone. Seath wondered if they hadn’t been in the Seelie Court, if it would have killed Donovan to go through what he had so quickly.
“The Seelie realm revealed many things that could be seen in no other way,” Caine said to Titania, coming forward as the Councilors began disappearing back to the mortal world. “I know the Fae frown upon gratitude, but —“
Titania reached out and in a rare showing, gave Caine a squeeze. “Perhaps this time the gratitude should be mutual. I had no idea about your wolf, Seath. Greene.” She nodded to each of them. “I suspected one of them was Morgan in hiding. I did not know which one and so I could not show my hand.”
“Will Donovan be okay, going into our realm?” Caine asked.
She looked at Caine with an intensity Greene was glad wasn’t turned on to him. “I have shielded the effects as well as I can. His mate can help heal him, but it will take time. Donovan will have a story to tell, when he is ready. I would very much like to hear it.”
“Then you will. When he is ready.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Mated to a Prince After All
Seathknewthattakinghis mate to their den was what was expected once they returned to the Pack House, but that ancient pull, the intuition that he knew to let guide him, called otherwise. He let Caine know where he was going, and pulled his mate into his arms, using the portal dust to get them to the hot springs in the forest below the Pack House. The stone grotto reflected the ocean’s gentle roar, but this was a freshwater-fed spring. It was said to have healing properties. Seath didn’t know about that. In the moonlight, it looked like it could, some sort of mystical place where magic lived as much as a man did.
“I should tell you all I know.” Donovan’s voice was soft, stilted, edged with pain as it drifted up from where Seath carried him.
Seath shook his head. “No, not now, mate.”
His mate blinked up at him, confusion swirling in eyes that already held hurt and had since the Seelie Queen untangled his magic. She had given the instructions for a draught, and Min had made it before they came to the springs. Seath was wary of even a recipe that came from the Seelie Court, but Caine had said it was not the same as food or drink itself. It had helped, now Donovan only looked like he needed a year or so of rest, rather than a decade.
“You are exhausted. Let me take care of you.” Seath carefully began separating Donovan from his clothing.
“I’m not going to break, Seath.”
Seath pressed a sweet kiss to his mouth. “No? Well, maybe I want to take my time. I …” he let the swell of emotion that took over his voice, rising in his throat, settle back down before beginning again. “I didn’t know what was happening in the Seelie Court, and there was so little protection I could give you ....”
His hands mapped unblemished skin, looking for injury. The scars at his mate’s wrists gave a faint silvery white glow in the moonlight, almost healed but maybe never completely. There were no new scars, no external injuries.
“I’m just tired. Not hurt.” His voice was tired, but amused at Seath’s inspection. “My brain has whiplash, if that is possible.”
“Come here then.” Seath drew them both into the warm pool. “What do you want me to call you, love?”
