Drostan strode to his horse and mounted with an expert leap. I looked from him to the Cu-sidhe and back again. Drostan nodded to me.
“Will you forgive us, Riley?” Rath asked. “We just wanted you so badly.”
“We didn't mean to cause you any harm,” Ruin added. “We're sorry to make you run from us.”
I sighed deeply and then hugged the men. “You're forgiven,” I said. “I hope that you find a mate soon and that she'll be worthy of such wonderful men.”
“Thank you.” Caleb kissed my cheek and then whispered in my ear, “If this is an act, and you need help, just say the word, and we will see you freed.”
“I'm fine, Caleb,” I said gently. “Thank you for the offer.”
Caleb nodded and stepped back beside his brothers with a sad smile. Drostan helped me up into the saddle, and we rode away as the Cu-sidhe stared after us.
Drostan held me tightly as we galloped through the forest; silent for a few minutes. When he finally spoke, it was with solemn sincerity.
“You would make a spectacular queen.”
“I've always thought so,” I joked.
“I'm serious,” Drostan reined in the horse. “You have a way with people that puts them at ease. You genuinely care about them, and it seems to give you insight. You handled the Cu-sidhe with grace and wisdom. Without you, it would have been a bloodbath. In fact, I believe that you've just saved my rule, Riley.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “And you're welcome.”
Drostan dismounted and then helped me to the ground. He knelt before me and pulled a ring out of the pouch on his belt.
“I was going to do this before the Cu-sidhe interrupted us,” he said. “And now I'm even more resolved to this action. Not only are you the woman I want to spend eternity with, but you're also the only person who can make me into a better king. I love you, Riley. There is no other woman for me, and there never will be. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I gaped down at Drostan; my heart pounding in my chest. Something was screaming inside me to say no. But marrying Drostan would make me Queen of Unseelie. My position couldn't get more secure than that. And saying no to him would most definitely threaten the status I'd already gained.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Delight spread across Drostan's face as he stood and lifted me off my feet. He'd forgotten about the ring; I could feel it pressing into my back between his palm and me. After he swung me around, he set me back on my feet, and the ring fell into the grass.
“Son of a bitch,” Drostan snarled as he dropped to his knees again.
I laughed and got down with him; searching the grass for the treasure. Drostan laughed with me as we hunted together. I'd never seen him so carefree; so happy. We found the ring at the same time; our hands closing over each others. We picked it up together and stared at each other a moment before Drostan slipped the ring onto my finger. It was a heavy black band with an enormous diamond set in it.
“I know that humans like diamonds for their engagement rings,” Drostan said as he held my hand. “And the band is Unseelie steel; a little of your culture combined with a little of mine.”
“I love it, Drostan,” I whispered, and then decided to take the plunge and give him what he really wanted; even though it was probably a lie. “But I love you more.”
“Riley,” Drostan murmured in awed joy as he pulled me into his embrace. “You've made me so happy.”
“I'm happy too,” I took the lie further.
Drostan started kissing me as his hands parted my bodice. I lifted my skirts for him and laid back in the grass. He moved between my legs as he followed me; covering me with his body. Drostan angled his cock into me and rose above me with the first thrust. He stared down at me like I was everything he had ever wanted. I lifted my hand to his face, and the diamond in my ring caught a shaft of sunlight coming through the trees. It blinded me for a moment, and I squinted against the glare. Two other faces flashed within the light, and it was all I could do to control my expression. I pulled Drostan down to me and kissed him so that I wouldn't have to. As I did, I silently said goodbye to Trenton and Conall; marrying Drostan would effectively kill any hope of ever holding them in my arms again.
Chapter Forty-Three
Drostan kept his promise to the Cu-sidhe and launched an investigation as soon as we returned to the castle. He summoned all of his castle staff and advisers and then spent hours interviewing every fairy with the amount of power required to give an order to send supplicants away. He made his way down from there; speaking to guards, maids, and even the gardeners. By the end of the day, Drostan had traced the line of command from the gate guards to his steward.
The castle steward was a sidhe with a secret grudge against Drostan. Drostan had the grudge removed, along with the steward's head. Then he had announcements delivered to all of the Unseelie villages that he would be receiving any and all fairies who needed assistance from their king. Along with that announcement went out the bans of our wedding.
As soon as Drostan had slid his ring upon my finger, he began to treat me as an equal. I had climbed a rung above consort and become a fiance. As Drostan's betrothed, I was given respect on a whole different level. I was about to become Queen of Unseelie, and that was huge. From slave to monarch; I had impressed the entire court with my leap in status. And then there was Drostan; he became shockingly romantic, and every intimate moment with him had shifted into something profound.
Ironically enough, Drostan's sincere affections lessened his hold on me. Without the crazy bouts of savage sex, my body became less and less dependent on him. I began to return to myself; the lust haze finally clearing.
Just in time for my wedding.
