“So, it's not only me you see clearly,” Trenton said softly as he looked at me. Then he turned to stare at Drostan in consideration. “Do you truly love her; enough to enter a Blooding with her and two Seelie men?”
“Fuck me, but I do.” Drostan sighed dismally. “I've fought against my feelings, and I was cruel to her; all of you know that. But it was in self-defense; I knew that she would destroy me. Riley got into my blood, and I couldn't deny her; no matter what I did. I would dream about her and wake with a desperate wanting. Then I'd have to accept the fact that I wasn't the one holding her... that I might never be that man.”
“I can see how that would be rough,” Conall offered grudgingly. “But the things you did to her—”
“I regret them,” Drostan cut him off. “But only because it hurt her. I don't regret that those actions have brought us here. You see; she did destroy me, but only to make me into a new man—a better man. A man who is willing to compromise; simply so that I may be one of the lucky few to be loved by her.”
I looked at the Seelie men and waited; my heart racing. I was tumbling fast into an ocean of emotions, and if Trenton or Conall refused to accept Drostan, I knew that I'd drown in it. After all that he had just revealed, I couldn't let Drostan go. I couldn't let any of them go. I watched with baited breath as Conall nodded to Trenton, and the Prince gave a deep sigh.
“This will be a binding marriage between the four of us,” Trenton said. “You will be forever connected to Seelie, King Drostan. Can you accept that?”
“I believe what you just said is that there will be an unshakable peace between our kingdoms,” Drostan noted with a smirk. “So, yes; I can accept that.”
“I, too, can accept it,” Trenton smiled softly and looked at me. “It seems that my sister was wrong about you, my love. You are not the harbinger of war, but rather; the catalyst of peace.”
“I do my best,” I said with a soft smile.
“One condition,” Drostan added.
We all looked at him warily.
“We finish this here; today,” Drostan said firmly. “I won't let you ride away with Riley while our marriage remains incomplete.”
“So be it,” Trenton agreed. “Summon forth your officiant; he shall unite us all.”
“And the marriage shall be consecrated here as well,” Drostan added. “With all of us; together.”
“Um...” I cleared my throat. “What does that mean?”
“We will all have you on the same night,” Drostan said. “I will not allow it to be said that Prince Trenton consecrated your union first. My people would find insult in it.”
“And mine would be insulted if you were to take her first,” Trenton nodded. “All right, King Drostan; we shall make camp, marry our lady, and have our wedding night together.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Word was sent to Queen Tana so that she had a chance to attend her brother's wedding. She rode up just as night fell, and we were all assembling before a make-shift altar with Percival standing as officiant once again.
“Queen Tana,” Drostan smiled saucily at the other monarch. “I'm pleased that you could attend my wedding.”
“And I'm pleased that a peaceful solution has been presented to us,” Tana said generously. “I will be delighted to call you 'Brother.'”
“And I will be most relieved to call you 'Sister.'” Drostan bowed gallantly to her. “You have been a worthy adversary, Your Majesty, but I'm sure you shall make an even better ally.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Tana said smugly. Then she turned to her brother and hugged him tightly. “Blessings to you, my brother. I hope this marriage will not only bring peace to our kingdom, but to your soul as well.”
“It already has,” Trenton said warmly. “And I'm grateful that you're here to bear witness to it, Tana.”
“I am as well.” Tana turned to me. “Riley, you have surprised me over and over. I thought that you would bring my kingdom ruin, and for that, I offer you my sincere apology. I have never been more delighted to be proven wrong.”
Tana hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back.
“Take care of my brother,” she whispered in my ear.
“I'll do my best, Your Majesty,” I promised.
“I have brought you a gift,” Queen Tana said as she waved Janet forward.
Janet carried over a carved, wooden box and opened the lid for the Queen. Inside, there was a delicate, crown of gold leaves twined with sparkling, white flowers.
