“You keep getting yourself in this kind of situation, don't you?”
The voice is familiar and when I turn my head it's confirmed: Lucien has been sitting by my bedside. Why would he be here? And where is Rowan? I thought that Lucien told me he wants space to get over what I did, or rather what I didn't do. He brings his hand up to brush the hair from my face, a tender look playing across his features.
“What are you . . . ?” I interrupt myself, the pain in my throat too much to finish the sentence.
I bring my hand up to my throat from the pain and Lucien leans over to grab me a cup of water with a straw. He holds it for me as I take a few sips and wants to have done. I sigh from the relief of it. How long have I been out if I can barely use my voice? How much time have I lost?
“You've been in a coma for a few weeks. Shadow swords are meant to kill, and that one on your thigh was almost damning. Adrian's father was able to heal it, but it was up to you and your body to wake up.”
“A few weeks?” I ask, dumfounded.
He nods solemnly. “But if it makes you feel better, you were successful. After you collapsed in the fight, the light fae masters and I arrived.”
They fought the dark fae until a ripple of power shot out across the battlefield, Lucien explained, freezing everyone in place. He had never felt anything like it in his seven hundred years of existence. Then Julian, the Dark Fae King, commanded everyone to cease fighting. He said it was on the Queen of the Fae’s orders. That statement made Lucien smile until he realized that I wasn’t standing there with him. Rowan had the same thought and rushed through the crowd up to where Julian stood. When he found me there on the ground, using all those black shadows, his power exploded as he screamed in anguish. It was to the detriment of nature around everyone, cutting trees and destroying wildlife.
“He thought you were going to die.”
The story silences me and I'm not sure what he wants me to say in response. Lucien is telling me all about how distraught Rowan was to find me bleeding and broken on the top of that hill. and yet he's the one standing here. I reach out to Rowan in my mind, hoping to find him nearby.
Rowan? I'm awake, please come see me.
Of course, my love, I knew you were awake, I'm rushing to your side. I've been in the dark fae territory with Julian over the last week, signing accords on our behalf to establish peace. I will be there as soon as I can.
I love you.
I can almost see his smile. I love you as well.
“Did you get a hold of him?” Lucien asks, breaking me out of my spell.
“Yes, I did. Thank you for sitting with me while he's been gone. I'm sorry if it hurts you,” I murmur.
He grasps my hand suddenly, forcing me to look at him. His expression is full of regret and sorrow, but a shining happiness outweighs it. Where did that come from, I wonder? Is he truly happy for me?
“Ever since walking away from you before you set off for the Water Kingdom, I thought about my reaction. I could only come to one conclusion over and over again. A real male would only feel happiness for the woman he loves when she's happy. So I'm happy for you, Tiana. Even if I can't share that happiness with you.”
Tears gather on the corners of my eyes and I grip his hands with both of mine, pulling him closer. “I love you. A part of me will always love you. Don't forget that.”
“Now don't get my hopes up,” he jokes.
“I don't think that you will only find one love, one mate, in your entire lifetime. Don't give up searching for someone who can make you happier than I could have. Find the love of your life, the woman who can give you a son like Octavius.”
He looks away. “We never talked about it, but I knew. That is dark Amira's child, and looking at him sends a pain of sadness through me. It makes me think what if, and that's a dangerous rabbit hole to go down.”
“I know. But you are the spirit fae king, and you’re duty-bound to produce heirs of the throne. You'll have to find someone, and out of the seven trillion people in the world, I know that you will. Even if you don't.”
He changes the subject. “Speaking of being a king, you never asked me for my allegiance.”
I shrug, smiling at him. “I didn't think I had to.”
“Well, now it's mandated by the accords for peace between our peoples. But I still have to prove that you're worthy.”
We look at each other, and I'm sure I have a look of shock on my face. “Worthy? Don't you know me better than anyone else?
He chuckles. “Yes, which is why my trial will be simple. You will accept your fated mate connection with Rowan at your coronation, making your love official to all. Only then will I give you my allegiance.”
“What? You think I won't do it without your pushy attitude?”
He really laughs at that. “Yes, I'm fairly certain that you'll get cold feet.”
“You're like the bridesmaid kicking my ass down the aisle!” I shout, laughing gleefully.
He shoves my shoulder, laughing as well as his eyes glow a bright violet. A sign that he truly is happy. Maybe we can still be friends, and if nothing else he is my king, well, at least my king of spirit.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
* * *
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High Fae Academy - Year Three: Paranormal Fae Romance Page 15
