Page 181 of The Fallen Fae King

Joy wraps around me that Daire sees me.

He has had someone working on this for months.

He is handing me part of his heritage.

“Thank you.” I raise my gaze to meet his. “How do I…?”

Daire leans forward to brush his plush lips against mine. “Hold out your hands…” He gently drops the parchment onto my palms. “…Then say its name.”

Anticipation rushes through me.

I am about to hold more rune magic in my hands than even Bard, one of Daire’s original worshipers who gave up his kingdom and even his bond with me for the Unseelie, was gifted.

Pride surges through me.

I take a deep breath, before I whisper, “Thornbloom.”

Instantly, the parchment expands in a glimmer of emerald magic, transforming into a leather-bound book.

I gasp as my hands are weighed down, steadied by Daire’s.

I stare at the leatherbound book, before flipping it open.

The pages magically bloom with intricate runes.

The capital letters of the instructions to the magic are illuminated in silver and green, while vines with thorns, oak and blossom trees, and wild winter landscapes illustrate each page.

“It’s beautiful.” I turn the pages, discovering new rune magic, alongside wondrous drawings of animals and landscapes from the Unseelie Kingdom that take away my breath. I feel immersed like I could truly be there, sensing the longing for the lost home in every brushstroke. “Your friend is talented.”

“The drawings are taken from my memory by magic.” Daire slips his arm around my shoulders, watching each scene unfold along with me. “This book will always be a part of me for you to hold onto. My world and childhood.”

I sharply glance at him.

What isn’t he telling me?

“This is precious.” I shiver as I study a page of rune magic, which is illustrated with such realistic falling snowflakes that I can almost feel them on my skin. “But I’ll always have you.”

He doesn’t reply for a long moment.

Nervous, I demand more loudly, “Won’t I?”

“This book makes me feel like I can reach back and touch that world.” When Daire stands towering above me, suddenly I see the mesmerizing leader of armies, rather than the fae who cuddles me in bed. “But it’s only a memory of something that’s long lost. You and I were reduced to animals by the dragons: The Kitten and the Wolf. But look at us now. Tomorrow, Aurelius swears that he’ll crown us as his Emperor and Empress. Yet I don’t need his crown. I have always been my own fae, love. I am the Fallen King who is going to become the Risen King. It is finally time to show everyone what happens when you try to tame a wild fae.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ignatius’ Bedroom, Shadow Court

Aurelius

I focus on steadying my breathing, as my hand edges toward the hilt of my dagger.

Hadrian is growling just beneath my skin, and this morning I will let him out.

But not yet.

I must interrogate Aquila first, and if I do that, then he may survive. If Hadrian carries it out, however, then the Omega’s head will be torn from his body, before his tongue will be able to tell me anything useful.

I slip the key that War gave me into the lock of Ignatius’ door. The subterfuge of making copies of keys is child’s play for my commander.