Forever With The Fae King (Mated To The Fae King Book 5)

by Bailey Dark

  The walls and towers have almost been completely rebuilt using the stones from the walls that used to surround it. Now, the castle is open to swathes of rolling hills and picturesque views of Desmarais and the sea. The lawn, drive, and open spaces around are filled to the brim with people.

  Almost every citizen of Desmarais has shown up to my wedding, and more people from villages throughout Alnembra. Visiting ambassadors and royalty are also in attendance. I catch Erzur’s eye where she sits a few rows away from me. She gives me a haughty smirk and shifts so her cloak falls open to expose her ivory gown. I raise my brows, not at all surprised that she’s opted for a dress the same color as Verity’s.

  Flowers adorn every available surface. Ribbons of gold and white flutter in the breeze, looped between towers and over the crowd. An arch stands behind me, made of woven birch and decorated with moss and flowers. From above, snowdrifts over us but it isn't cold. Yesterday, Verity cast a spell over the area to ensure it would remain warm during the ceremony without melting any snow. I smile softly to myself, looping my fingers together behind my back. She recovered quickly from her illness of magic but has been using magic sparingly since.

  A bell tolls and the musicians switch their tune from one of ambient noise to a wedding march. I straighten, carefully adjusting my jacket with and straightening my trousers. A heavy cloak sits on my shoulders, lined with white fur and clasped with a golden chain. My crown rests on my forehead and I know Verity will laugh at the red mark and indentation I’ll have later when I can finally remove it. I don’t often wear my crown, but a formal occasion like this calls for it.

  Suddenly, I see Navi make her way down the aisle. She clutches at a small bouquet of peonies and forces a smile. I lift a hand and hide a snicker at the sight of her. Fae traditions are different from mortal ones. In a purely Fae wedding, we would have taken our vows in front of a crowd of royalty underneath an arch much like this one. But there would be no wedding march, no collection of women to walk before the bride, and it wouldn’t matter what Verity wore. After short vows, the Fae would dance under the moonlight. But for the sake of Verity’s traditions and my people, we’ve organized a three-day festival instead.

  Navi has been forced into a petal pink gown without sleeves. Her shoulder-length hair was curled this morning and attendants painted her face with makeup. She looks gorgeous but uncomfortable, and no amount of forced smiling can change that. She meets my gaze and her forest green eyes flash with irritation. But Navi agreed to this when Verity asked her. The two became close while Verity was recovering. Navi comes to a halt at the base of the steps and turns towards the crowd, at attention. No one can force the soldier out of Navi.

  The air changes, and tiny, golden sparks drift down from the sky. My lips quirk into a smile. It was Verity’s idea to give the wedding such drama, she thought the people would enjoy feeling like the world had a little magic left in it after the horrors they endured. Soft gasps rise from the crowd, and I know Verity was right.

  Verity enters the light and it feels as if my heart stops. She lifts her head, a blush on her cheeks as she gazes out over the crowd. I can hear her heart beating to a staccato rhythm. When her eyes finally meet mine, a smile blooms on her face. She's dressed in a simple, ivory gown, decorated with lace and pearls. The sleeves are long and cling to her arms. Once the fabric hits her waist, it hangs loosely and pools around her feet. The train is at least five feet long and fringed with gold. Her light brown hair has been curled softly and is partially hidden by a long veil. Even from this distance, her eyes capture me as they always have.

  Slowly, she starts down the aisle. I notice her hands quivering, but my own are as well. When she reaches the stairs, she hands her bouquet of matching peonies to Navi. I don’t miss the encouraging smile Navi offers her. Verity mounts the stairs, holding her gown in one hand so she doesn’t trip. The golden sparks above us waver for an instant with her concentration. I catch a flash of amber from a nearby alcove and see Serus watching.

  I take Verity’s hands, holding them tightly as I feel her tremble. Her eyes dart towards the crowd but I squeeze her fingers lightly. “It’s just you and me,” I murmur.

  “Tell that to the thousands of people out there,” she whispers, but she smiles.

  I cock a brow. “You ready?”

  She nods tightly. “Yes.”

  In Fae weddings, there is no priest, no officiant to guide beloveds through their vows. Such things are memorized before, and when they’re spoken beneath the arch, they become binding. I take a deep breath, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. From my pocket, I draw a thin, silver chain. I wrap it once around her wrist and then around mine. The chain flares with heat and Verity’s eyes widen.

  “I offer to you my life, my soul, my very blood,” I say, raising my voice so it floats over the crowd. “From this day forward, I offer food from my table, wine from my cellars, coin from my pocket, and love from my heart. Until my body becomes one with the clay from whence it was born, I will be yours completely and wholly. Until the next life, my love, when we will meet again.”

  Verity is quiet when my vows end, the last sentence echoing over the crowd. She inhales sharply and I feel her nails dig into my palms. I furrow my brows together, wondering if perhaps she’s forgotten the vows. But then she straightens, and I see her eyes shimmering. Verity takes the silver chain from my hand and loops it over our wrists one last time.

  “I offer to you my life, my soul, my very blood. From this day forward I offer food from my table, wine from my cellars, coin from my pocket, and love from my heart.” A tear slips down her cheek. “Until my body becomes one with the clay from whence it was born, I will be yours completely and wholly. Until the next life, my love, when we will meet again.”

  I break into a grin when the last word has left her lips and in bundle her in my arms. She kisses me, our chained hands clasped together. The crowd erupts behind us, and the golden sparks in the sky burst. I growl against her lips, and she giggles. When we part, the musicians strike up a merry tune. For the next three days, there will be feasting and entertainment for the people. Beyond the edge of the crowd, tents with fortune tellers, tricksters, food vendors have been erected, and many more have been erected. The majority of the crowd surges towards them now, and flames flare in the distance as entertainers begin their shows.

  The ambassadors and royalty wait as we descend the steps. Hands chained together, we greet them one by one. Verity looks breathless, cheeks flushed with happiness. I hold her tightly, not bearing to have any distance between the two of us. Heat builds in my chest as I catch her eyes and I see a flash of desire in them. But duty comes first, and so we make our rounds, thanking new and old allies for attending. Surrounded by Fae women, Thal lifts his chin towards us with a grin and a wink. He turns back to the fawning nobility with one last look at Verity.

  Erzur and Moritz approach, standing a step apart and looking hatefully at each other. I grin and shake Moritz’s hand. He offers me a rare smile above the cowl of his thick cloak. “Congratulations,” he says. “When I heard of Erzur’s generous offer to break the agreement, I couldn’t believe it. I had to send an emissary to her court to confirm it.”

  “And they refused to leave for three days until they got a personal audience with me,” Erzur says, scowling.

  “It’s nice to see you both are getting along as usual.” I grin.

  “Yes, well.” Erzur rakes her eyes over Verity and then purses her lips. “Congratulations I suppose. Altair, when Verity dies in eighty years, perhaps we can discuss another arrangement.”

  Verity’s jaw drops as Erzur smirks and glides away. “I cannot stand her,” she says, glowering at Erzur’s back.

  “Don’t worry, Verity,” Moritz says. “With your Fae ancestry, you won’t be passing anytime soon.”

  “Eighty years isn’t exactly soon,” Verity counters.

  “It is for the Fae. You’ll see.” Moritz eyes the festivities in the distance with distaste. “
Enjoy the rest of your celebrations.”

  “Thanks for coming,” Verity calls as Moritz strides away, flanked by two elite soldiers.

  A woman with blazing red hair approaches, her blood-red cloak fluttering as she walks. Nearby Fae take a step back as she passes, studying her with suspicion. Verity breaks into a smile, and I straighten my shoulders, flashing a confident smile. The new leader of the Bloodbane, Grinda, is a strong woman with family in Desmarais. She understands the need for peace between us and is powerful enough to make the Bloodbane listen to her. She reminds me of Cleo in some ways, but without the murderous gaze.

  “Congratulations,” she says, lips quirked upwards. “And thank you for the invitation. It has been some time since a Bloodbane was invited to a public event by a Fae King.”

  “It’s a new beginning. We’re glad you came.” I shake her hand, making sure others see it.

  Grinda relaxes and nods towards Verity. “It is good to have a bridge between our people. We hope you will visit sometimes.”

  “I don’t know if I’m quite ready to return to the mountain keep.” Verity shudders.

  “Well, whenever you are, you’re welcome. You both are,” Grinda says with a nod of understanding.

  “We hope to work together in the future,” I say.

  Grinda smiles and begins to turn away. I notice her deadwood broom nearby. Verity steps forward. “Wait,” she calls. Grinda turns, brows raised, and Verity looks awkward. “Is there a new Dark God yet?”

  I inhale sharply at the mention of the Dark God. We left Sadal in the Ether two months ago and have heard no news about a replacement yet. Not that the Gods would inform us of such a thing. I’ve ordered my scouts to keep a close on the Bloodbane’s numbers, and they reported a slight increase in the last few weeks. If there is a new Dark God, it would explain the new Bloodbane witches.

  Grinda smiles secretively. “The Gods don’t concern themselves with us.”

  I frown at her non-answer, but she turns away before we can press her for more information. We watch as Grinda mounts her deadwood broom and launches into the sky. The sun is setting, painting the air with a purple glow. Verity slips her hand through mine, trailing Grinda through the sky towards the mountains. She sighs.

  “Is that enough work for the day?” She asks with a cocked brow.

  I scoff. “It wasn’t work, it was a friendly conversation.”

  She tugs me closer until our chests brush. Verity flashes me a wicked smile. “What would you say to some very friendly conversation upstairs?”

  I grin, desire flushing through me. "I would say that's an excellent idea," I growl.

  Smiling giddily, Verity drags me back up the stairs and beneath the arch. I glance up at it and can't help but smile as my thoughts flash back to the vows we took. The doors to the castle close behind us and I hold Verity's skirts as she climbs the stairs. She glances over her shoulder at me, eyes lit with wickedness. A growl rumbles in my chest, and I feel myself stiffen at the thought of bedding my wife. I don't know if I can make it to our rooms near one of the rebuilt towers. As if she can read my thoughts, Verity darts into a nearby hall, an empty one in the midst of construction. Work is halted for the next three days for the festival and she leads me beneath heavy wooden beams and around piles of mortar towards an alcove.

  I hoist Verity up and her legs wrap around my waist as our lips find each other. I kiss her greedily, desperately. Her breath hitches in her throat when my teeth graze her bottom lip. I draw every moan and whimper from her with my tongue, lapping through her mouth. Verity grinds against me, sending heat and pleasure flaring through me. I trail my lips down her throat and nip at her jugular. She mewls softly, nails digging into my back.

  I grin against her neck, tasting her. Visions of Verity naked and writhing on our bed fit through my mind, memories of the past months. For a brief moment, I wonder if she would prefer our first time as husband and wife to be somewhere more romantic than an empty hall. I had prepared spirits and chocolates and roses in our room for this moment. Verity whimpers demandingly, squeezing me with her thighs until I can feel her slick heat. A growl rips from my throat and I lower my lips to her breasts. Her wedding gown is still on and I can’t bear to rip it, so I lift my lips to hers.

  “Tear it,” she gasps, tangling her hands in my hair.

  “Are you sure?” I murmur, heart thrumming with excitement.

  “Do it,” she moans as I lap at her neck.

  With my teeth, I rip open her wedding gown. Pearls clatter to the ground, spilling around us. I close my lips around her breasts, teasing her with my tongue and Verity moans sharply. The sounds of her pleasure echo through the half-ruined hall. The walls are open to the night, stars winking behind us and music from the festivities floating around us. A cold breeze flits over us but Verity waves a trembling hand and it warms instantly. I smile, teeth grazing over her until her body convulses with pleasure. She clutches at me, digging her nails into my shoulders.

  With a cry of pleasure, she bucks and rolls her hips against mine. I groan, shuddering, and move with her. Her body is slick with sweat, lithe and perfect in my arms. Lit by the stars, she glows with an alabaster sheen. I kiss her hungrily, pleasure and happiness tangling together in my chest. She is mine. I am hers. Finally, after months of conflict and pain, we are allowed a happy future together. And we’ll make one. I’ll die before anything ever comes between us again.

  My kisses slow as my heart swells. She stills, moving gently and deeply against me. Ecstasy rocks my body and hers in time with one another, leaving us both slick with sweat and gasping for air. When it’s over, she leans on me, melting into me. I wrap my cloak around her and gather her ruined wedding dress in my arms. She grins tiredly at the sight of it and then pauses, eyes locked on the night sky outside the non-existent walls.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispers, staring at the sparkling sea as the moon rises.

  I smile, studying the curve of her nose and the way her eyes turn to a murky blue in the darkness. “It is.”

  Verity laces her fingers through mine as we watch the moon rise higher together. A grin stretches over my face, despite how exhausted my cheeks are from smiling nonstop all day. Together, Verity and I will see a future of peace and prosperity for Alnembra. Together, we’ll create something beautiful. I squeeze her hand, anchoring myself to her. Suddenly, a shooting star streaks across the sky, trailed by a white hue. Verity gasps and points at it.

  “Make a wish,” she says, closing her eyes tightly. I watch as her lips pinch in concentration. I have nothing left to wish for, I have everything I could ever want with Verity by my side. She peeks at me. “You’re supposed to be making a wish.”

  I close my eyes, humoring her. “What did you wish for?” I ask quietly.

  “I can’t tell, or it won’t come true,” she whispers.

  “I see.” I smile. “Let me tell you my wish.”

  “No,” she protests but I can hear the curiosity in her voice.

  I shrug. “Alright, I won’t.”

  Disappointment tugs her lips into a frown but she tries to hide it. “Well, good.”

  “Unless you really want to know,” I say.

  “No,” she quips.

  “Okay.” I drag the word out, teasing her.

  Finally, Verity nudges me with her shoulder. “If you whisper it to me, maybe it won’t count as telling,” she suggests playfully.

  I tug her to me and press my lips to her ear, tickling her. She shivers as my breath caresses her ear, and she curls into me. I let my lips hover over her, tantalizing her, until the right moment. When her nails dig into my chest and I feel her lifting her head towards my neck, I speak. "My wish," I breathe, and she stills, "Was not a wish at all. You're everything I want."

  “Cheat,” she murmurs, but I hear the smile in her voice.

  I pull away and kiss her forehead lightly with a smile. “I couldn’t tell you anyway, I wouldn’t want it to not come true because of you.”

&
nbsp; “Hey!” Her brows raise as she laughs. She takes my hand, tugging me towards the main hall and the stairs to our room. “Come on, I’ll show you my wish.”

  “Wait.” I pull her back into me, draping my arm over her shoulder. “Just a little longer.”

  Verity is quiet as we stare out into the night. She rests her head on my shoulder and I feel a wave of peace and contentment. I smile softly. For the first time in a long time, everything feels right.

  And it’s perfect. She is perfect.

  New Series from Bailey Dark

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  About the Author

  Bailey Dark is obsessed with all things dark, hot, and supernatural. From Fae to Aliens, her heroes are thoroughly alpha and pure raw masculinity. When she’s not writing (which is hardly ever) she’s busy watching every movie in the marvel universe, or binging supernatural on her couch. So come along, and enter her dark world. . . .

  https://www.baileydarkromance.com/

  Also by Bailey Dark

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  FREE Preview - The Beast King’s Bride

  Chapter One

  Daphne

  “Mm-hmm,” Vania said through a mouthful of avocado toast, crumbs tumbling to the tabletop. I rolled my eyes at my best friend. “That would turn me on, too.”

  “Oh, gawd, that’s not what I meant. I wasn’t saying seeing him beat the shit out of Rhone would rev me up. I just meant—”