Time shifted. Everything slipped and went skewed. He was my Arach. It didn't matter when we found each other. He had always been mine. I should have known from the instant I laid eyes on him that I would mess up time. Because there was no stopping us from becoming what we were meant to be to each other. Not once it had begun.
A slight move of my head was all that was needed to bring his lips to mine. And then my Dragon King was purring, melting under my hands. Heat built, both literal and figurative. Fire bloomed in Arach's chest and burned into mine. I doubled it and gave it back to him. He didn't know what awaited him, not really. But he knew what he held in his arms.
“A Thaisce,” Arach whispered as he drew back. “I . . . my dragon went wild when I heard you were missing. I thought something terrible had happened.”
“Not too terrible.” I stroked his cheek. “And it looks as if the ally you cultivated came through for you.”
“Yes,” he said absently, his dragon stare gliding over my face. “Vervain, I can't be without you. I just can't. Stay here with me.”
“I haven't even been born yet.”
“So we will face the consequences together.”
“Arach.” I held his face in my hands. “You have a lot of living to do without me before you're ready for what we will become. Trust me, you don't want this yet.”
“I don't believe you.” Arach bent his head and nipped at my lips. “I'd rather spend thousands of years with you than anyone else.”
I couldn't stop the next words from leaving my mouth. “I love you.”
His triumphant grin did throw water on the romance though.
“Ugh!” I shoved away from him. “I don't feel so bad about leaving now.”
“You're not leaving,” Arach declared and pulled me back to him. “Because I love you too, Vervain. You were right to be arrogant. I've fallen. There. I've said it. It's done.”
I softened. “Let's not argue about this right now. It's time to celebrate.”
“Another celebration.”
“The Return of the Queen,” I said. In my head, I added,The first return.
Arach held up a fist and shouted, “To the feast!”
The Wild Hunt roared and cackled and stomped their feet.
“Um . . .” I looked from Arach to the Hidden-Ones, who stood apart from everyone else. “Could they join us? They came to free me after all.”
Arach looked over at the Hidden-Ones.
They misinterpreted his look and began to march inside, their glorious heads lowering. It about broke my heart to see them walk away from a victory in shame.
“Truly?” Arach asked me. “You wish to dine with them?”
“They are the fiercest most beautiful faeries in all our kingdom,” I said loudly, proud of myself for keeping my voice from cracking with emotion. “I would be honored to share a meal with the blessed Hidden-Ones of Faerie.” I couldn't say anymore. I was already pushing it by saying that. But it was enough.
The Hidden-Ones stopped and turned to gape at me. And they weren't the only ones. The other Fire Fey gaped at me too.
“All who endeavored to free our queen are welcome at the feast,” Arach called out. “Especially our most fearsome warriors!”
The Hidden-Ones stared at their king for several long heartbeats, then, as one, they roared. Clawed hands lifted along with chins, and shining eyes latched onto me with hope.
I just hoped that I hadn't screwed up the future too badly.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Hidden-Ones were given a wide berth and their own table. Their table manners were atrocious. But they were happy, and it made me happy to see them happy. Dubheasa's messenger, the one whom Arach had kept out of spite, was released and brought to the hall to feast with us, but he took one look at the Hidden-Ones and shot out of there. As the sound of his running feet echoed, the whole hall laughed.
Poor guy. He was only doing his job.
