Savine cocked his head and lifted his brow as he placed his hand on the doorknob.
Avery fidgeted with her hands as she waited for him to open the door. “Don’t make me second guess my decision to face everyone! Let’s just do it quickly, like ripping off a band aid.”
Savine smirked at her. “Band aid? Is this another strange human word?”
Avery nodded and put her hand on his, forcing him to turn the doorknob.
The fae lights of the hall were already glowing, and Avery realized just how long it had been since she and Savine sneaked out of the treehouse and into the forest. A guard running through the hall immediately caught sight of Avery as she strode down the long, wooden hall. He was a few floors above her, but as he saw her, he shouted, “I’ve found Avery!”
“Avery!” a loud call rang out through the halls. It was Rue. Of course she was searching with the others for her and Savine.
“Rue!” Avery shouted back, her head pounding from her own voice.
Savine laid a hand on Avery’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Let’s make our way down to the Throne Room. I have a feeling we’ll find many concerned folk.”
Avery turned to Savine as she tsked and teased, “You take one afternoon for yourself and the whole place goes to shit.”
“Such are the responsibilities of the crown.” Savine traced his own crown with his fingers. “How does your head feel?”
“Terrible,” she replied, lacing her fingers in his as they began descending the stairs to the lower level of the treehouse.
Savine was right; the throne room was full of busybodies milling about. No doubt wondering where their devoted king could have run off to on a late fall afternoon.
“My King!” Raikin said as he stepped forward with a deep bow. His eyes became nothing more than slits as he studied the crown on Avery’s head. Murmuring began behind him as the courtiers and servants assessed Avery. Raikin turned from Avery to Savine with a knowing gaze. “You are bonded?”
Avery’s cheeks began to burn, knowing the room of fae were about to know what she and Savine did this afternoon.
Savine opened his mouth to speak, but before the words were out, Jay swept in with a bow. “My Queen!” he shouted and brought his large frame into a low kneel that brought his head below Avery’s.
Avery couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her face as Jay looked up at her with a mischievous grin. “I know what you did this afternoon,” he muttered for only her ears.
Raikin followed Jay’s lead and bowed before Avery. Then Kyla and Garnel knelt down. Soon, the whole room knelt before her one by one, calling her “My Queen.”
Avery’s heart pounded. She didn’t know if she wanted to run from the room or accept the reverence from all these Latian Fae. As they slowly stood up, towering above Avery once again, Avery glanced at Savine.
He looked at her with an odd mix of possession and pride, his essence swirling and his features set, ready to take on anyone who doubted her role as his queen and mate.
“Avery is my bound soulmate and the Goddess herself has blessed her with the crown of Latiah. She is the True Queen of Latiah. We are not to be disturbed for the remainder of the evening,” Savine announced as he stepped closer to her side.
Kyla and Garnel began approaching, but he brushed them off in a way that commanded respect; a practiced, authoritative wave as he ushered her from the room and up the stairs.
Savine wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked side by side. She could feel his love pulsing through their connection. If being queen was part of having Savine, then maybe it was worth the trade off after all.
Morgan
Morgan and Susan walked quickly behind Selene as she led them into a private library Morgan hadn’t seen yet. She knew, from the night Rylo had put her in his bed, that this library was in the same area of the Towers as Rylo’s bedroom. How many libraries did this man have?
Selene stopped in front of a red stone wall, devoid of any markings to identify that there was actually a room here. She pressed her hand against the stone and it groaned in response before dissolving before their eyes.
“Quickly,” Selene muttered as she slipped into the room. Morgan and Susan didn’t hesitate to follow into the library. Morgan couldn’t contain her gasp as she looked at the room in front of her. A cozy den seemed to be carved directly into the stone with room enough for only the three of them. Soft pillowslined a bench and two leather chairs were squeezed into the corner. It was so tight that even with her wings tucked, Selene’s feathers brushed against the bench. The walls were chiseled into shelves, and on them were stacks and stacks of books up to a ceiling that had to be at least twelve feet high. Tiny fae lights twinkled, casting the room in a warm glow.
But the most remarkable thing was the floor to ceiling window with a direct view of Sapphire Falls. From this point, Morgan could see the mist drifting into the air from the plummeting water.
Jumping off the falls had been useless, and Morgan hadn’t given the falls much thought since she’d gone to the Tower of Teeth. But seeing it now sent a shock of yearning through her chest. Home was on the other side of that barrier, and yet she couldn’t get there, no matter how hard she tried. Morgan sighed and turned away from the window.
“King Rylo offered a few books that you may find interesting here,” Selene said, pointing to a pile of brittle old books on the table. “They are some of the oldest remaining manuscripts in Aeritis, so do be careful with them. Despite the aging spells some long-dead king placed on them, I wouldn’t doubt you two could ruin them. Why Rylo indulges you is beyond me.”
Morgan tried not to roll her eyes at Selene’s little speech. She had no plans of destroying a precious artifact.
