“How... what?” Leone stammered, his shock twisting into horror. “Fiona, have you lost your mind? He’s an orc!”
“I’m an orc too,” I shot back.
“You aren’t an orc, Fiona!” he exploded, struggling to sit up. “You were cursed to look like one. You’re the Princess of Ceilte!”
Malek took a step forward, his large hand resting possessively on my waist. The heat of his touch anchored me, reminding me that I was no longer that princess protected by walls and lies.
“I’m what I am now, Leone,” I said, staring him down. “And I’m not ashamed of it.”
“Did he force you?” Leone’s question was an insult that made every one of Malek’s muscles tense.
“Never,” Malek growled, his voice as dangerous as thunder before a storm. “Your sister is strong. She could never be forced into anything.”
“Enough, Leone!” I snapped, covering Malek’s hand with mine to keep him in place. “I wanted to mate with him, and I want you to respect that, or we’ll have problems. Understood?”
Leone stared at me with profound grief, as if I had just betrayed our entire kingdom.
“You must be going out of your mind,” he murmured, shaking his head and shifting his gaze to the wall. “If Lord Fenric doesn’t kill Alasdair for this, the heartbreak surely will.”
Chapter 23
After our small argument, Malek left the cabin to seek out the elder Kroshak, leaving Leone and me alone. My brother resumed the conversation as soon as his footsteps could no longer be heard.
"What are you doing, Fiona?" He stared at me with a seriousness that was rarely directed my way.
I sighed and sat by his side. I looked down at my claws, feeling the raw strength that now coursed through my veins. It was a contradictory feeling; in Ceilte, I was taught that strength should be subtle, hidden beneath layers of etiquette and magic. Here, strength was in my arms and legs.
"I know what you're thinking," I said, as I shifted from my hands to his pale face. "But... the Orb of Caith brought me to Malek for a reason, Leo. I feel a connection to him that I cannot explain."
"A connection? Like a mating bond?" His eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets. Soul bonds were rare among the Fae, something many sought for centuries and died without ever finding.
"I can't say if that's what it is; I only know it's overwhelming. And after what we did yesterday... I feel like that thread between us has become a chain." I saw no need to lie. Leone had always been my safe harbor, and if I decided my place was here, among the Okshai, I knew he would support me, no matter how he felt about it.
Leone rubbed his face with his hand, letting out a loud, incredulous laugh.
"You slept with Malek Strong-Axe. By the goddesses, Fi... at least, was he any good?”
I grinned, feeling the heat rise to my face. The joke was a sign that the tension between us was over.
"Better than anyone else I’ve been with." My sincerity finally shut him up. "Malek saved me, Leone. He taught me that I can be more than just a piece on Ceilte’s game board. He’s risking his leadership just to keep you alive."
"I understand all of that. But he’s an orc. What will Father think when he sees his daughter marked by the Ruk'hai of Oksha?"
"He’s my father, and he loves me," I said, my voice taking on a hard edge. "The blood oath binds me to Malek, and peace is a mutual interest. If it’s not Malek helping us, then who? Fenric?"
Leone let out a long breath, the hardness leaving his gaze.
"You were always braver than I," he admitted. "If it weren't for that stupid law of succession, you’d be the Lady that Ceilte needs."
I smirked and nudged his shoulder with mine. My new strength made him lose his balance and tumble to the side. I let out a laugh at the indignant expression he made, clearly caught off guard.
"It's going to be hard getting used to your new size..." he grumbled, eyeing me from head to toe. "Or the color. Now you look like a muscular avocado."
I rolled my eyes, looking down at my arms, which were indeed far more toned than they had been when I was High Fae.
"To be honest, I actually like my new body," I said, my voice carrying a conviction that surprised even me. "And the orcs... they aren't barbarians or savages, Leone. In truth, they’re much better than we are."
"I understand, Fi." He reached out and rested his hand on my shoulder, his pale skin contrasting sharply with the green of my own. "But that doesn't change who you are. You’ll always be the Princess of Ceilte."
