Tae removed another band from his satchel and held it out to me. I took it with wonder—a duplicate of mine, though slightly larger.Great balls of fuck, this was happening now. Right now.
“Shane, I promise to always love you and put you first in my heart and my life. I will be true to you no matter what may befall us. You are my mate.”
The words had weight to them—the feel of ceremony—so I repeated them. “Taeven, I promise to always love you and put you first in my heart and my life. I will be true to you no matter what may befall us. You are my mate.”
Tae smiled bright enough to light my world. “Together?” He held up my ring.
I nodded and held out my hand. Tae held out his and, in unison, we slid the rings on each other's fingers. Something shivered in the air around us, like the displacement made from the flap of wings, and I briefly felt a warm hand on my shoulder. Taeven's eyes widened, and I knew he felt it too. She was with us.
Tae's broad palms bracketed my face, and he stared at me a moment before saying, “You are my mate and my miracle.”
Then he kissed me, and I knew that the true miracle was him. This wondrous man who, by some stroke of luck and magic, had become mine. Who loved me just as much as I loved him. Enough to risk everything for my safety. I started to tremble, and when we finally drew apart, my vision was blurry.
“I love you,” Tae whispered and brushed his thumbs over my cheeks, wiping away my tears.
“I love you too, Tae, but if you don'tmakeloveto me right now, I'm going to scream.”
Taeven burst out laughing, and another epiphany hit me. This was what our life would be like, whether we were fighting Farungals or having a picnic in a Varalorre forest. Love and laughter. That's what he was for me, and that's what I was for him. Forever. Or as long as the Goddess allowed us.
Since she was with us, I said my first prayer, though I did it silently.Thank you. Thank you for choosing me and choosing to give me to him.
A shiver rushed over me, like feathers against skin, and I heard her voice clearly for the first time.
You're welcome, my sweet boy.
Chapter Forty-Three
We had to stop twice on the way back to Stalana the next day. My wings weren't up to flying for such long spans yet. We used it as an excuse to linger in Varalorre a little longer, first having a drink in a Wolf pub—set in a town built around the base of massive trees—and then lunch in a Coyote cafe. Early that evening, we flew through the sparkling mists and left Varalorre.
We rested twice more in Stalana, and I felt like a horrible drag, but no one made me feel that way. All the nasty looks I'd been getting from Tae's knights had vanished overnight, and they now treated me with great respect. It was especially strange from Daron, but at least he had enough nerve to tell me why. Simply put, they had heard about the shit that went down with the Princess and the ex-general, and they finally saw me as deserving of their precious Falcon Lord. I wouldn't be hanging out with any of them, but I did appreciate their improved attitudes.
Finally, with the moon high above us, we landed within the Falcon Camp. We were instantly approached by guards who welcomed us home and then ran off to inform the Generals of our return. Taeven and I strode through the camp side by side ahead of his knights, the familiar sights and smells reminding me that this place was a type of home to me and there were reasons to be happy about returning to it. As we came within sight of the Falcon Lord's tent, Tae sent Nelos off to request dinner for all of us. Then we split up further, some of his guards going to drop their bags at their tents while the remainder went to their posts. Mere minutes after we arrived in Tae's tent, the fae and human generals came in. I was just walking back into the main room after depositing my satchel and new guitar in the bedroom, and my eyes widened at their promptness.
“Falcon Lord, your arrival is most timely,” General Gravenne declared anxiously. “Our Falcon patrol returned an hour ago from their nightly flight out over the Bellor, and they've reported a sighting of Farungal ships on the horizon. We anticipate that they'll reach us by morning, perhaps sooner.”
Tae's shoulders straightened and, after casting me a heavy look, he slid back into his warlord role. “Have you alerted the Unsidhe Camp?”
“Yes, my lord. They have joined us in our preparations.”
“We don't want our soldiers weary for the fight. Let them rest until the ships get closer. For now, we keep a firm watch on the sea and prepare for an early morning. I want a Falcon sent out hourly to scan the Bellor. Once we're down to a three-hour window, rouse the troops. We will wait behind the beach walls and meet our enemies as they disembark. I want Falcons in avian form and humans with flight harnesses over their armor—just in case they're needed in the air or they need to be pulled out of battle.” He glanced at me, and I knew he was remembering my rescue and the wounds it had created.
“Very good, my lord.” General Gravenne nodded.
“And ask Commander Varcir if he would join us for dinner,” Tae said. “We need to discuss our strategy.”
“And perhaps Goblins,” I said to Tae.
Tae nodded. “Yes, that had occurred to me.”
“Goblins, my lord?” General Smith, the human general, asked.
“I'm uncertain why, but the Goddess compelled us to research Goblins while we were in Varalorre. I need to discuss it with Commander Varcir.”
“Yes, my lord!” General Gravenne bowed reverently. Any mention of the Goddess inspired such reverence from the Fae, but especially when it referred to a sign from her.
The men hurried away while Tae and I faced each other.
“It looks as if a day does make a difference,” Tae whispered. “We nearly missed the battle.”
