“Yours too,” I reminded him.
Len didn’t argue, giving a slow nod. Almost a bow. “Mine too.”
My throat was tight, so I turned away and attempted to get myself together. This fae was wreaking havoc on my composure and internal stability. Part of me wished that he’d step away so I could breathe freely, while another part knew that already I craved his presence.
The juxtaposition of my feelings right now was boggling my mind.
And my soul.
Len ended up being the distraction I needed, odd considering he was what I needed a distraction from, but as he fell into tour guide, I found myself relaxing.
“This is the main royal courtyard,” he said as we walked forward. “We use it for large banquets, celebrations, and morning energy renewals under the sky crystals.”
The courtyard was huge and round with light stone pavers lining the floors. Pillars, looking very sentinel like, surrounded the circular boundary. There was no ceiling, just the pillars and some crisscrossing structures high up. As we moved closer, I could see the pillars had carvings across them, depicting what looked like fae performing various tasks from meditation, to painting, to eating in large groups. At the peak of each pillar was a reven stone.
“You use those stones to recharge too?” I asked, scanning the twenty-foot-high structures. “And you also consume food?”
“Some do,” he replied. “Some exist just on stone energy. Our young require extra sustenance, but once you reach a certain age, you have the choice.”
He chuckled suddenly, and I realized I’d screwed my face up. Relaxing all the muscles, especially those wrinkling my nose, I forced out a strangled laugh. “I just cannot imagine living without food. I’ve been forced to a few times, and it was the absolute worst.”
He was no longer laughing. “Who withheld food from you?”
The question sounded innocent, but his eyes were swirls of darkness as he met and held my gaze. “My dead true mate,” I breathed.
Len’s expression hardened. “It pains me that fucker is already dead and I cannot kill him.”
When he made statements like that, I really,reallywished that I had my memories and could explore this connection between us. Since none of that was possible, all I had was a racing pulse and damp panties.
Needing a second to pull myself together, I paused near a pillar. Just as I was about to follow, a tingling sensation caressed the back of my neck, and I turned to find a fae nearby, watching me. Light, aqua colored eyes met mine, and I found myself examining him just as closely.
Not as tall as Len, he was still a head above me, with broad shoulders and ashy blond hair that touched the bottom of his ears. Expression amused, he straightened and tilted his head, gaze running along my body. “You don’t belong here,” he said in a smooth tone as his gaze returned to my face.
“I’m with Len,” I said quickly.
He quirked a brow as he straightened. I noticed he was wearing an ornate silver breastplate, looking like a warrior. Was he part of this land’s armed guard?
“Len?” he queried, as if he’d heard wrong. Or shit, maybe it was always Prince Len here and I’d just made a major fuck up. Before I could correct myself, Len wandered back into view, Tabitha waving her arms around as she bathed in the crystals’ light.
“Eyes off her, Tyrin,” Len drawled. “Or I’ll take great pleasure in removing them.” He sounded casual, but only a fool would think he was joking.
Not that the threat deterredTyrin, who stepped closer to me. He had a similar icy wash of power to Len, just less intense. “Aw, come on, brother,” Tyrin said. “You leave your gorgeous woman standing out here in the open. Seems you want me to step in.”
I waited for Len to correct him aboutyour woman, but he did no such thing.
“Brother?” I queried, unsure if it was literal, or more how Shadow and the others used the term. Brothers of choice, not blood.
“Oldest friend,” Len said shortly, giving me the answer I needed. “Though he might be relieved of that duty if he doesn’t back away from you.”
It was a warning. And damn if that possessive timbre to his tone didn’t have me feeling a little hot under the collar. Tyrin’s grin was huge, but as he pulled his gaze from me to face Len, he finally noticed Tabitha. His smile faded near instantly as he stilled, mouth half open, hands listless at his side.
“How is this possible?” he finally said in a near whisper. “A child? A royal child has been born.”
As if that had been an official announcement, the gems above us burst into life. Purple filled the air, and as the power surrounded us Tabitha started to cry. The first, real baby cry I’d ever heard from her, and it terrified my heart.
Was bringing her here a mistake? Maybe her half-fae side was not strong enough to withstand the energy?
21
