That must be a rule, right?
But then, I wrinkle my nose.
I must ask something that has troubled me from the moment that Bard rejected my bond in the cave, leaving me howling in agony and shame, before Aurelius swooped down and carried me away.
“Back in Fang Kingdom, Bard had a book on ancient rune magic,” I say, quietly. “He was as fascinated with it as I was. I never worked out why he was hanging around in the caves nearthe fae borders, when you were about to be ambushed by the dragons. My kingdom should have been ancient allies with the fae but we betrayed our loyalty to them, seeking protection from the Dracanians. King Ulf bended the knee, the raven starving coward. Bard acted like he had no interest in politics. Instead, he was a scholar, who only led the heathen wolves because his dad forced him to, whipping him regularly for his military mistakes. But somehow, why do I feel like Bard was risking everything to spy foryou?”
Daire ducks his head, allowing his silver curls to fall over his eyes. “Fae live by the rule of not asking questions that we don’t want to know the answers to.”
“So do I, which means that I really do.”
“Even when Bard broke your bond? Even when he chose his worship of me over his love for you?”
“What?” Ice-cold, I swim back from Daire.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I insist that I am a god, you don’t believe me.” Daire’s voice vibrates with primal magic; he is the fae of legend speaking now, one of shadows and cold death. “On the other hand, Prince Bard did. His heathen wolves are believers in the old feathered gods. They were working on overturning the Orm Court and taking over from King Ulf. Of course, then they’d have entered the war on my side. Where do you think he got that book on rune magic? It was mine.”
Daire’s book.
The magic that saved me on the night of the Mate Hunt had been Daire’s. I have been connected to my soulmate from the start. He protected me, even before he met me.
Yet how many other plots does my trickster have going on throughout the kingdoms that I don’t know about?
Aurelius truly should watch out.
I stroke my finger over the scale bracelet. “Is that why the asshole rejected me?”
“I don’t know. I’ll let my teeth ask his throat when I next see him.”
I grin, fiercely. “Don’t worry. I’m his Queen now. I’ll letmineask hisknot. Wait, that doesn’t sound?—”
“Kinky.” Daire laughs. “Now, rune magic, aye? First, why don’t you pick a color for my wings and hair? Then this becomes something special and secret, which we can enjoy between us, rather than yet another loss of my identity. Plus, I want you to still find me attractive.”
As if it would be possible for him to be anything else, even if his head was covered in a paper bag.
He looks at me expectantly.
I card my fingers through his silver hair, leaning in to nuzzle at his scent gland. “You’re frost and snow. The forest in the depth of winter. If you must hide who you are, then you should lie with the truth: white like your heritage and the snowy Unseelie Kingdom that I hope I get to see with you one day, the wild woods and frozen waterfalls.”
Daire’s lavender eyes are wide; his thick, butterfly lashes are matted wet.
He reaches to cup my cheek. “You’re a bloody miracle, Spark. And one day, I will show youmykingdom. Strength and power don’t lie in how much we own but how we survive when everything is taken from us. It doesn’t matter that I have kneeled for the dragons. The fae lands will always be free.”
He kisses me, soft and tender.
I loop my arms around his neck, losing myself as my soul is already lost in his.
“A white raven,” I murmur between kisses. “What will you call yourself?”
“Dove.” Daire’s eyes dance. “Aren’t I on a mission of peace?”
I splutter with laughter. “Rogue.”
“But a charming one.”
“You’re fucking with me, yeah?”
“Nay.” He shakes his head, giving a sharp grin. “I’m fucking you, but I’ll be fucking them. Peace…? They think that they’re being gifted a sweet pet,Dove. But underneath, I’m the sharp beaked Raven King. These dragons and Bloods would take my Omega, kingdom, freedom, and even the blood from my veins. Let them mistake me as a harmless plaything, when I’m really the one who’ll bring war to both their kingdoms.”
