by Jarica James
Gerwyn shoots me a look before stepping in. “It did happen suddenly. We considered ourselves brothers, forged out of necessity when we fled the realm. We knew we would be best to protect the new queen, so we volunteered when she asked. We had all aspects of a perfect guard. A warrior, a strategist, a leader, and knowledge. We took to Queen Arabella immediately. It was unlike anything I had ever felt. Not only did she catch our eye with her beauty, her personality drew us in even more. She knew nothing of Faerie yet here she was, sacrificing her own life for the good of the land. That kind of pure heartedness is hard to come by. But as soon as we were close to her, it was more than all of that, it was a compulsion.”
“One we couldn’t ignore. She felt like part of us before we even knew her past,” I agree. My voice is so serious that Gerwyn raises an eyebrow at my tone.
“We talked amongst ourselves about it at one point. We all felt it, but we figured we would get to know her, let her get to know us, then she could choose and we would respect her and the others enough to accept it," Maddox adds. It’s a nice touch, I don’t want him thinking we forced anything.
“How silly we were to think that we had any say in the trajectory of our lives,” I joke. The others chuckle, breaking the levity a bit. Even Sebastian relaxed.
“As soon as we entered the castle in Spring, the Spirits of Faerie lifted her into the air and she disappeared. You can ask her for more detail because we weren’t there in the Spirit realm with her. But they essentially told her she would have to find four powerful stones, cleanse them, put them in the crown, and when it was finished she would be bonded to four kings, one from each court," Maddox summarized. “At this point we all thought that Allwyn would be chosen, but then he betrayed her. He was plotting to kill her, and she found out. So, we became her protectors in his stead.”
“We already were,” Emrick added. Short, sweet, and to the point.
“She already used her magic and thought she found the first stone, so we traveled to a well she’d gone by on our way to the castle. She’s headstrong. She climbed down while we were deciding who would go in her stead. I hurried after her and the rope snapped, trapping us down there. The others went ahead, and Bella and I searched for the stone. She found it, cleansed it, and put it into the crown. It fused to the crown as soon as it touched it and bonded us together. The Spirits said the realm chose for her, seeing a bond already forming within us. My magic bonded with hers, giving her the ability to hold Spring’s magic. We all agreed to be there when she found the others, if she wanted us. She agreed, and here we are searching for the Winter stone of power. We just hit a few snags in the plan," I add humorously. Jacob stands and clears his throat. I notice that he has Bella’s pet mouse on his shoulder. Dormy stands at attention, mimicking Jacob’s stance.
“I am Jacob, Bella’s best friend and her only family for the last few years. I know you don’t know her well, but she is as head strong as they come. She just became a fae Queen, so the idea of the Spirits bonding her didn’t seem too crazy. She told me that she was more upset that she was taking away their choices. Bella has a kind heart like that. She chose them as much as the Spirits did, I think they just finalized the decision for her. She felt the connection too. She isn’t upset, she’s happy. These four make her happier than I have ever seen her. She always pushed away men, claiming it just didn’t feel right. I always thought she was just being picky, but maybe there was more to it than we thought," he finishes speaking and Dormouse punctuates his words with a squeak of agreement.
Sebastian, who was quiet this entire time, looks deep in thought and slightly shocked. I think he was ready for a fight, defending his daughter’s honor. But deep down I think he’s having trouble accepting that she’s now a grown woman who makes her own decisions.
“I can speak for myself, father. I am happy and it does feel right. The decision was made. They are wonderful," Bella says as she walks into the room, looking beautiful and fierce. “I have Emrick, who is my rock. He’s gentle and nurturing, but fiercely protective. I have Maddox, who always makes sure we are all staying focused and following the right path. He is incredibly sweet and caring. I have Gerwyn, who is so smart and kind, but underneath has intense control and a demanding, wonderful nature. He makes me want to give him the best side of myself. It’s nice to hand over control when I’m feeling overwhelmed. And Bowen, my first king, he is attentive and mischievous. He brings out a playful side and keeps us all from giving into anger or sadness. They all complete me in the best ways.” She kisses us each in greeting as she speaks like she knows we’ve barely been holding it together without her.
“I guess I need to realize I no longer have a baby, I have an adult," her father says with so much sorrow in his voice.
“It’s a new world. Now you will get to see your amazing daughter bring about change that this realm desperately needs. You also have the freedom to love Allura in a way you never could before. It’s a second chance at a better life and everything you worked for," I reassure him. He smiles at Bella and nods.
“You’re right," he says simply, standing and pulling Bella into his arms. She melts into the hug, closing her eyes tight and soaking in her first hug from her father. And from the sound of it, the first parental hug she’s ever gotten.
“I’m so proud of who you are, my daughter," he says, his voice thick with tears now. She mumbles something we can’t hear, but his smile says it all.
After a few beats, Dormouse starts squeaking incessantly again, officially ending the sappy moment.
“Hello, baby," Bella coos and walks over to him. She gives Jacob a long hug before taking Dormouse and nuzzling him to her cheek.
As the room grows quiet, I notice she seems to withdraw into herself. It’s like watching a slow-motion mental breakdown. It has to be the king’s death or the trauma of it all. Ending a life is never something a good person can take lightly. And Bella is the best person I know.
“Bella, it wasn’t your fault. You saved hundreds of people. Don’t give into the emotions you are battling. He isn’t worth your sadness," I say, walking over and scooping her into my arms. The others close ranks around us, lending her all of our comfort and strength in one hug.
It’s not only us holding her together, it’s a reminder that she’s not alone and never will be again.
Chapter 11
I killed someone. Me, the girl who couldn’t let a mouse get eaten by a snake… killed someone.
I’m distracted by the sweet words Bowen and the guys are saying to me, but when the conversation ends my mind goes right back into the darkness.
“I feel so guilty. I know he tried to kill me, I can still feel what he did to me. I know he froze you guys, I know he tortured my mom, I know he was evil to the core. It doesn’t make it easier though. I killed my own grandfather. I killed your father," I sob, looking at my own father to see if he hates me now. Leave it to me to scare off the first parent I really have.
“He was no father of mine,” my dad promises vehemently. As quickly as it came on, his anger fades and he gives me a soft smile of reassurance. “You did the right thing. Your actions saved the realm.”
My perfect kings surround me and it’s more than comforting touches. I can feel their strength, Bowen’s is the strongest, our magic intertwining and wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. Another sign that our relationship is fate. Faerie chose these four for me and I love them more than anything. We may have dove all in, but some situations are outside of our control and we can accept and embrace it or exhaust ourselves by kicking and screaming the whole time. I choose to embrace what I already felt for these four.
“Alright. I won’t dwell on it,” I agree with a strained smile. Now is the time to get our shit together, find the stone, and see what we can do to help these people. “Update me. How are the fae he froze? What of the king? Food and water for our people? Beds? Blankets? Bathtubs?” I stand and face them with determination. My knights’ faces hold a mix of pride and relief as t
hey watch me fix my metaphorical crown.
“Actually, if I may, my Queen. I found something interesting in the former king’s office," Andras speaks up from behind Jacob. We all turn to him and I gesture to the spot next to me, so he can come share what he found.
“Of course, and it’s Bella, Andras. We’ve been through enough that formalities aren’t necessary,” I remind him gently. He gives a sheepish grin before launching into an explanation. His entire face lights up as he goes on, clearly in his element. This man was made for research.
“Now, some of what I have is just theories, but the rest is from the king’s personal journal," he explains in a rush. “The king mentions that he wanted to control the entire realm, to do this he planted the seeds of war. The Dark War was due to his actions. We were all taught it was because the ‘dark courts’ eventually tired of being looked down upon and wanted respect, eventually branching into war when they wanted more power with that respect. But it's so much more than that. He mentions chaos, political moves, and even experimentation.”
“How can one man start an entire war?” Jacob asks, looking appalled.
“He convinced his people, then the Court of Autumn, that the light fae were plotting against them. Word of mouth is an incredibly powerful thing," he says. “I read through his journal, and his paranoia and mumbling got worse as the years went on. But in the beginning, he was a power hungry force to be reckoned with.”
“So, one madman on a power trip brought about the downfall of an entire realm?” Maddox asks for clarification, a look of pure disgust on his face.
“I’m sure there is more to the story, but corruption isn’t merely a human trait," I add, thinking of Allwyn’s betrayal. Emrick reaches over and squeezes my hand, picking up on my thoughts.
“Remember that Gerwyn said the king was pompous and to check the castle for the stone. I think that the stone corrupted him slowly. Not in the sense it changed him, he had to have had the traits already, but that the extra power he felt when near it drove him into madness," Andras says, looking at each of us to gauge our reactions.
“The crown had jewels," Maddox says. Jacob looks at me and I see that evil little glint in his eye. He’s about to pull a Jacob move and drive the men crazy. But behind that glint I can see his desperation for normalcy and I wouldn't fault my best friend for that.
“Bella and I will go to the outside of the ballroom. She can put out her magic and see if she feels it," he announces, jumping up and grabbing my hand. He pulls me away with a smirk.
“Unhand the Queen!” Emrick roars, jumping to his feet before we can even leave the room.
“You can join us, big guy," I reassure him, snatching his hand as I pass since Jacob’s only reaction is to laugh. I think the fact Jacob is being gentler than usual is the only reason Emrick doesn’t throw Jacob off of the tallest tower.
As Jacob leads us down the hall, I study my Autumn knight. I can feel his unease, this whole ordeal took just as much of a toll on him as it did me. And for such a protective sort, I’m sure seeing me battered and bruised wasn’t easy to take.
“I’m alright, Emrick," I promise him. He gives me an apologetic look in return. I hope he tells me more of his past sometime, I would love to know why he’s so protective.
“It may take a while to convince myself that you are. Sorry, sweetheart," he replies. “Seeing you again after all those days, it wasn’t easy.”
“What? I get no sympathy or concern? I guess this is how much I mean to you?” Jacob sighs dramatically, feigning hurt. Though the mischievous glint never leaves his silver eyes.
“Uh…I…Are you alright Prince Jacob?” He stutters over his words, eyebrows furrowing as he studies my friend. My giant warrior looks flustered and unsure. It is both comical and adorable.
“He’s teasing you," I say, laughing and swatting at Jacob. He stops walking and positions me behind him, turning to face me so I can’t see any remnants of my earlier battle. Emrick relaxes further at Jacob's actions, even giving my friend an approving nod.
“This is far enough. Use what your momma gave ya," he says with a shimmy. I can tell he is being protective in his own way, and I love him for that. It actually does keep me from dwelling on everything.
Focusing on my magic, I close my eyes and let it gather along my skin. Once it’s dancing freely, I send it out in a pulse. It bounces through the room, but other than a few magical signatures from the remaining fae, I feel nothing.
With a deep breath, I gather it back before attempting again. This time I send it further out, hoping it’s strong enough to travel through the solid stone walls. This time I feel the faint ping of strong magic coming from above us, though I can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from this far away. The pulse is extremely faint and if I wasn’t concentrating, I would have missed it completely.
Satisfied, I pulled my magic back in and opened my eyes. Two sets of wide gazes meet mine.
“What’s wrong with you two?” I ask, giving Jacob and Emrick a weird look.
“You literally glow when you use magic. Like you look like those glowing mushrooms," Jacob says in awe. I snort at his comparison.
“Did you just say I look like fungi?” I ask in mock horror. He snickers at me, realizing what he said.
“You were lit up like a disco ball, don’t blame me for finding that weird. Even after all the weird we’ve dealt with the last few months." I laugh at that. He isn’t wrong, our lives are permanently weird now. “I’ve seen you use magic before, but this is new.”
“Maybe it’s because I bonded with Bowen,” I suggest, shrugging it off.
“I think it’s badass. It makes you look like a fierce warrior," Emrick adds, giving me a sexy smirk. I blush at his praise, but mostly at the sexy place my thoughts go.
“Are you blushing, Queenie?” Jacob points at my red cheeks and laughs, which causes me to blush even more fiercely. I’m way too pale to get away with it subtly.
“I was just thinking of how sexy Emrick is, I can describe my thoughts in detail if you want? His sexy abs... his sexy smile... his long, thick-” I tease back, causing Emrick to make a strangled, surprised noise.
“Uh, no thanks," Jacob interrupts, his cheeks turning red now. I giggle and lead them back to our suite, satisfied that I’d thrown Jacob off this time.
“So, did you find anything?” Emrick asks, putting us back on track. I feel like half of the knights’ job is to keep us focused on nights like this. But after our shitty last few months, it’s needed.
“It wasn’t in the ballroom. But, I can feel it faintly coming from somewhere in the upper floors. We’ll have to explore and investigate tomorrow," I announce with a yawn. My renewed strength is starting to drain, especially after using my magic so soon after recovering.
Maddox looks up as I walk in, catching the end of my statement. He stands up and crosses the room in seconds, scooping me up and holding me close. I nuzzle into his neck and breathe in my Summer knight, reveling in the feel of his arms around me. The little moments like this are what solidify how much I care about them. They’re part of me, magic or not.
“We are taking the Queen to her room. We can discuss other things in the morning," Maddox says firmly.
“We can regroup in the morning," Gerwyn agrees, following Maddox’s lead.
Maddox doesn’t put me down until he reaches the bed. I smile up at him and he runs his knuckles down my jaw line. The light touch sends shivers down my spine. His gaze is intense, like he’s memorizing my face. It really scared them to be separated like we were. Not to mention they came back to a battered version of me, that couldn’t have been easy.
It scared me too. Knowing they were frozen and unsure if I could fix it, then seeing Gerwyn and Jacob in that ballroom. It nearly broke me.
But we did win, it’s over, I remind myself, refusing to let him take more away from me.
So far no one has asked about what happened down in the dungeon, and I’m thankful for it. It isn’t a time I will ever
look upon fondly. I knew each Court would have its challenges, I just never imagined imprisonment or torture at the hands of my grandfather being on that list.
“Bella?” Maddox asks softly, gently tugging on a strand of my silvery blond hair to get my attention.
“Sorry, did I miss something?” I ask sheepishly, the others chuckling softly.
“We were saying that Bowen is going to stay with you. We think the bond between you two will help you recover some strength. Two of us will stay in the common room as guards, the third will patrol. We will rotate and sleep. You work on resting.” Maddox kisses my forehead before giving me a firm kiss on my lips. Emrick walks over next, resting his forehead on mine.
“Please be safe. I love you, Bella," he says quietly before giving me a gentle kiss and walking away. The look on his face is like he’s leaving a part of him behind, and fuck if that doesn’t make my heart clench.
I’m left stunned at his declaration. Love is a big deal. We had all said it in passing, more of a familial way, or at least that’s what I thought. This sounds different, more direct.
Before I can truly process, Gerwyn is there. He leans down and dominates my mouth. It’s desperate and possessive. The moment I moan, he takes the opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. Within seconds he has me practically climbing him for more. I grunt in protest when he’s suddenly ripped away.
“Enough of that, lover boy. I don’t want to spend the rest of the night fighting a raging erection," Emrick complains, adjusting himself in his pants. He winks at me before forcing Maddox and Wyn out of the room.
“Just me and you now, darling," Bowen wiggles his eyebrows and crawls toward me from the bottom of the bed. He hovers over me, pinning me between his knees. “I’m glad you’re safe," he says, kissing me on the nose before rolling off of me and pulling me into his side. I snuggle into him, my nose against his chest. I sigh in contentment as the smell that is distinctly Bowen wafts over me. He smells like a mixture of fresh cut grass and spring rain.
