Conall laughed. “I've missed you so much, Riley.”
“I've missed you too,” I admitted.
“It's going to be all right.”
“I know,” I said confidently, but inside, I was a churning mass of worry.
I had nearly bound myself to Drostan forever. Then Trenton and Conall had ridden up in the nick of time to save me. That had been gloriously romantic, but to go with my lovers, I had to leave Drostan at the altar. His heartbroken expression would haunt me—as would the way he begged me to stay. Now, I was running from a war that was partially my fault. I didn't know how to begin to process it all. I was scared for Trenton, but—if I was honest with myself—I was also scared for Drostan. Damn it all to hell; I cared about the Unseelie King. That bastard had gotten under my skin. Now that his hold over me was gone, I could see it clearly; I couldfeelit truly.
“Turn us around!” I shouted.
“What's wrong?” Conall reined the horse in.
“I can stop this war,” I said, “if you and Trenton would be willing to add one more man to our relationship.”
“You don't mean Drostan?” Conall asked with horror.
“I care about him,” I whispered. “I may not love him yet, but I think that I could. He really has changed, Conall.”
“What are you saying? That you wish to marry all three of us?” Conall huffed, and then his expression went blank. “Dear Goddess; that just might work.”
“It will?” I asked in shock. “I mean; of course it will.Whywill it?”
“It would unify the kingdoms,” Conall said with wonder. “All of these years, Queen Tana and King Drostan have been in a shaky truce. Neither have children they could offer in marriage, nor could they marry each other. For one; they don't like each other much. And two; they need to rule their own kingdoms. But if you were to marry Tana's brotherandKing Drostan, that would be a way of uniting the kingdoms through marriage without either monarch abandoning their throne. This might be exactly what our world needs, Riley!”
Conall turned his horse about, and we started racing back to the border.
Chapter Forty-Six
King Drostan and Prince Trenton were in the tense space between their armies; glaring at each other from horseback. It was obvious that they had been in the middle of a heated argument when we rode up. The Seelie Army made way for Conall and I as we galloped out to the furious royals. Trenton glanced over at the sound of our approach and then a double take. His eyes widened when he saw us, but Drostan's eyes narrowed.
“I told you to get her to safety!” Trenton roared at Conall.
“Just listen to what she has to say,” Conall said calmly. “Both of you.” He added a grim look at Drostan.
Drostan lost his angry look in favor of a confused one. As both of the fairy royals went warily silent, Conall edged his horse between them and then nodded to me.
“Go ahead, Riley,” Conall said. “Tell them what you want for us.”
“I think I may have a solution,” I said to the King and the Prince. “If you're willing to compromise just a little bit more, Trenton. And if you're willing to let go of your anger, Drostan.”
“What else would you have of me, Riley?” Trenton asked in confusion.
“Drostan,” I said simply as I shifted my stare to Drostan.
Drostan's jaw fell open.
“Don't say it,” Trenton growled. “I just went through hell to get you away from him.”
“I know,” I said gently. “But I don't want these men to pay the price for our love.” I waved a hand at both armies. “And there's one more thing that I've only just realized.”
“What?” Trenton whispered.
“I care for him.”
My words fell into a shocked silence. But then Drostan began to laugh; not a scornful laugh as I was used to, but one filled with happiness, hope, and wonder. We all looked at Drostan with wide eyes.
“Riley,” Drostan declared, “you are the most confounding, amazing, annoying, beautiful, life-altering, intuitive, sexy woman in all the worlds. Not only do you always know exactly what I need but now you seem to know what my kingdom needs as well... what this whole fucking world needs.”
