A server in a pink bow tie handed out pieces of cakes. When Father’s attention was dragged away by one of Lady Dashwood’s neighbors, Ryo and I inched away to a blanket beneath a tree and sat down.
I set my plate beside me and scanned the yard. Blankets were being laid all around, and guests were making themselves comfortable while they drank and ate cake.
“Looking for someone?” Ryo asked gruffly. He sighed. “He’s moody, but I think he means well. It couldn’t have been easy growing up with Albedo and Malon.”
“It wasn’t exactly unicorns and rainbows for you either,” I said. “I just found out that Jastra advised Liri to execute you after he took over the throne.”
“That doesn’t surprise me one bit.” He chuckled as though it was part of a long-ago prank.
Fae had serious issues. Was I really considering spending my life among them? A commitment to either of the young kings was a prison sentence at Dahlquist. They had responsibilities. Soon enough, I would, too, but that didn’t mean I had to make the conventional choice. It was nice knowing that no matter what I’d have my sister’s support. I imagined myself traveling with a child, showing her all the wonders of the world. Would she have her father’s golden hair? She could have just as easily been Ryo’s. I hugged my chest, leaving my piece of cake uneaten beside me.
“You look so sad, Mel. I hardly recognize you,” Ryo said softly.
I could feel him watching me. I was afraid to look into his deep brown eyes too long. My heart felt as though it had been cleaved in half. I kept trying to push it back together, but a chasm had opened between both halves.
Ryo poked his cake with his fork, not eating his piece either. He set it aside and stared at me until the intensity of his gaze drew me in and held me in place. “I’m not asking you to be my queen. I know how you feel about all that. I’m not asking for anything from you, Melarue. I’m offering myself to you if you want me.” He tried to smile, but it looked sad. A moment like this shouldn’t be sad! But my throat was clogging up as though I was about to lose him and didn’t know how I would go on afterward.
Arg! Stupid heart and hormones.
I blinked back tears, unable to mask them, unable to answer, barely able to breathe.
“I won’t have to rule forever, and it’s not all the time,” Ryo said. “We could still go on adventures, and there’s a whole armory full of swords and stuff at the castle.” He shrugged. “Could be fun.”
“And Lyklor would be at the castle with us?” I asked, finding my voice.
Ryo frowned at the mention of his cousin’s name. “Unfortunately, yeah. I think we can learn to get along. We haven’t killed one another in our first three weeks of ruling. We share a lot in common.” Ryo’s voice dropped. “Too much in common.” He gave me a hungry look.
I lifted my hands to my cheeks and rubbed my face. “Can I have some time to think?”
“Of course.” Ryo got to his knees and stood.
I didn’t mean right away, but now that Ryo was readying himself to give me space, I was eager for some time alone. Before walking away, he dipped down and whispered by my ear, “Just remember I’m yours for the taking.”
Heat flared over my skin. My breasts peaked and damp heat seeped between my thighs with delicious memories of our two bodies joined.
After Ryo left, I buried my face in my hands again, heart thumping against my ribs like it was trying to break free.
I wanted to go after Ryo and tell him, yes, I wanted him, but it wasn’t that simple. Why did this have to be so hard?
I looked around, expecting to spot Lyklor striding over to make his offer. Sarfina had claimed he loved me. So where was he? Had he lied to her? What purpose would it serve?
Father ended up finding me instead. He and Lady Dashwood planted themselves on my blanket before I could escape. When he grumbled about Aerith refusing to talk to him about our time in Faerie, I took pity and shared the highlights—the kicking ass and reclaiming castles kind. It was sorta nice to have a distraction even though Ryo’s words were on repeat inside my head.
“I’m not asking you to be my queen . . . I’m not asking for anything . . . I’m offering myself to you . . .”
When darkness descended over Sky Mother’s realm, lanterns and candles flared to life as servants lit them around us. Light twinkled from tree branches and atop rows of trunks. The lute players picked up the melody, and soon guests were dancing in the yard.
Father stood and reached his hand for Lady Dashwood. “Would you do me the honor of a dance, my lady?”
She giggled, answering, “Of course.”
They joined the twirling mass that included Aerith and Jhaeros. I’d never seen Jhaeros dance. He had skills, but I imagined, like me, he preferred fencing and horseback riding to prancing around the yard.
I got up, searching the crowd for Ryo. Maybe we could take a time out for a dance—special day and all—but I couldn’t locate him. He better not have portaled back to Dahlquist without saying goodbye.
I did spot Lyklor, leaning against a tree, one knee bent with the bottom of his boot pressed to the trunk. My fire magic flared—the angry kind—at the sight of him lounging around while my stomach churned at sea. It was like our first meeting at Ravensburg all over again with him standing back, waiting for me to come to him. Arrogant prick! I should ignore him back, but I couldn’t.
I stormed up to Lyklor, planting my hands on my hips when I stopped in front of him, glowering. Lyklor tensed, his focus on me.
“Are you planning on ignoring me all night?” I demanded.
His lips formed a flat line, the blues of his irises piercing me like flecks of ice. “I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me,” he said sullenly. “You ran off to Ryo at Ravensburg right after being with me, then took off from Dahlquist without saying goodbye.”
Oh, um . . . my shoulders sagged, the heat of my anger simmering down.
Lyklor dropped his foot to the ground with a heavy sigh. “I understand you weren’t acting out of any true feelings toward me. It was witch magic.” He shrugged, but I saw the flash of hurt in his eyes.
“I do have feelings for you,” I informed him.
Lyklor’s lips parted slightly. He cocked his blond head to the side as though he’d misheard me.
“Before the lust dust,” I clarified. “I meant what I said before. Why do you think I brought you that scone?”
“I thought you felt sorry for me.”
“I did. Plus, I liked you. I still like you.”
Lyklor leaned forward, a smile curving his lips. “Do you love me?” he asked huskily.
“Yeah, that too.”
“What about Ryo?” He folded his arms.
“I love him too.”
Lyklor scowled.
“Do you want me?” I demanded.
“You know I do,” Lyklor growled.
“Good,” I said, leaning back.
“Am I to understand you’ve come to a decision?” Lyklor took a step toward me.
“I have,” I said with a firm nod.
Now it was Lyklor’s and Ryo’s turns to decide. The two cousins were sharing a crown. The next question was—could they share me?
Epilogue
Melarue
Six Years Later
Sunshine turned the blades of grass emerald, bathing the field outside our cottage in warm light. This is where Aerith and I had first moved after leaving Sweetbell. She’d bought the place and rented it out after moving in with Jhaeros then gifted it to me after my claiming ceremony nearly six years ago. We’d had to make some additions to fit our expanding family and for the help who traveled with us.
Hensley and Jastra had finished their college degrees. Afterward, they got involved in summer theater, leaving Lyklor and Ryo to rule over Dahlquist three months out of the year while Liri and Hensley oversaw the other nine. When we weren’t at Dahlquist, we were traveling or at our Pinemist cottage, spending time with my family and our friends.
Aerith, Keerla
, and Sana sat on a picnic blanket drinking sweetberry wine while I blocked little Fraya with a wooden sword. My niece pressed her tongue between her teeth, intent on tapping my leg. I’d promised her a jeweled dagger if she managed to strike me. Her long blonde hair was braided back, and she wore breeches—my kinda girl. When she came at me again, I knocked her sword aside. She managed to hold on, gripping the handle tighter, tongue poking out farther. She tried again and again, huffing a breath of frustration. I grinned at her. She knew if she wanted the dagger, she’d have to earn it.
The males were batting a birdie across a net with rackets—one of the many games we’d brought back from the mortal realm. That was probably why everyone liked to hang out at our cottage; we had all the fun stuff: the Slip ’N Slide, trampoline, water guns, lawn darts, soccer balls, hula hoops, and good old-fashioned weapons. Jhaeros was going to help the guys build a jungle gym. I couldn’t wait to try out the tire swing. They weren’t making much progress playing badminton, though. Ryo and Devdan had teamed up against Lyklor and Jhaeros. It was good to see it wasn’t Fae against elves.
Fraya pulled her tongue in and charged me. I sidestepped her, laughing.
“Arg!” she groaned.
“Give up?” I asked.
“Never,” she growled.
I smiled. “Thata girl.”
“Mommy!” Zelie zoomed past us, her face pinched in anger, brown hair mussed up around her face.
She was Devdan and Sana’s little girl, about a year younger than Fraya. Dev and Sana had married hastily—sorta like me.
“Mommy, Lark is throwing pits at me,” Zelie whined.
Sana lowered her glass of wine and glared at the cherry tree. There was no sign of the blond terror, but I had no doubt he was hiding in the branches.
Fraya ran over to the tree and hit the trunk with her wooden sword. “Lark! Stop bothering Zelie unless you want me to climb up there and cut you down.”
I walked over to the blanket and snorted at Aerith, who sat with her legs stretched out, sipping wine languidly. “Your daughter is fierce,” I said.
“Your son’s a little prick,” Aerith returned with a teasing smile. She cupped a hand over her mouth and yelled, “Keep your cousin in line, Fraya.”
“Lyklor, get your son under control.” Ryo whacked the birdie at him.
Lyklor ducked just in time to avoid being hit. He gave Ryo a rude gesture then jogged over to the tree, looking into the canopy beside Fraya. “Stop throwing things at pretty girls, Lark. If you want to throw pits at someone, chuck them at Ryo.”
Before I could sit down, Peridot and Kaylin came hurrying out of the cottage, each carrying a fussy black-haired baby. I suppressed a groan. “They’re hungry again?”
“Sorry, Miss Mel,” Peridot said sheepishly.
“Ugh, it’s not your fault.” I mean, Lark was kinda her fault, but she’d been helping make up for that ever since his birth.
Kaylin had kindly offered to help after I had twins. Yep. Twins. Freaking Ryo knocked me up with twins—a pair of boys. Arg! More males. It was like he’d been trying to one-up Lyklor. He certainly gloated over it.
I followed Peridot and Kaylin back to the cottage, settling into a comfortable cushioned chair before unbuttoning my blouse. I took Reed from Peridot, followed by Ronin from Kaylin. The females made themselves scarce, giving me the privacy they knew I liked as the twins each took a nipple.
The crying stopped, replaced by the soft sounds of sucking.
Ryo and Lyklor ducked into the cottage and stood gaping.
“Hey, boys, want me to draw you a picture?” I shook my head at them.
“Booby pictures?” Lyklor smirked. “Yes, please.”
I stuck out my tongue, and he laughed. I winced as one of the twins—Ronin—nipped with his teeth.
Lyklor tsked. “Such greedy little bastards, like their father.”
“Afraid they’ll gang up on you one day?” Ryo asked with a glint in his eyes.
Lyklor puffed out his chest. “Just remember who knocked up Mel first.”
Ryo jutted his chin. “Remember who mated her first and put two babies in her belly.”
“Boys!” I yelled.
The twins stopped feeding and looked up at me with startled eyes, their mouth’s forming cute little Os.
“Not you,” I said fondly to the pair of silky black heads. I looked up and glared at Ryo and Lyklor. “I’m talking to your fathers.” I enunciated the plural part. “Take it outside,” I told them. “No more peep shows until you play nice.”
Lyklor groaned.
“I can play nice,” Ryo said in a taunting voice.
I gave them my “I mean it” glare, which finally chased them out.
After I’d finished feeding the babies in peace, Aerith tapped at the open door. “Mel, can I come in?”
“Please do,” I called.
She stretched her arms out to take Ronin, beaming at the little tyke as she cradled him in her arms. I laid Reed in my lap while I buttoned up my blouse.
“Such sweeties,” Aerith cooed, stroking Ronin’s head.
“Give it another couple years, and they’ll become little monsters,” I grumbled. Lark was a handful all on his own, never mind twin terrors. Good thing we had reinforcements.
“They’ll grow out of it. You did,” Aerith said.
I stuck out my tongue.
“Oops, I spoke too soon.” Aerith chuckled. She loved to tease. Naturally, she and Jhaeros had produced the most well-mannered child in all the realms. Fraya was disciplined, calm, and already a little badass elf, while I’d spawned little half-elf, half-Fae demons. Yep, I totally loved my males.
“Will Lyklor want another child to even things out?” Aerith asked, still petting Ronin.
“He better not,” I said, even though my belly heated at the thought. I picked Reed off my lap and held him against my heart. He’d been the first born of the pair, and I swear he was already more mature. “You know, this childrearing thing isn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, though.”
Aerith rolled her eyes. “Especially when you have two mates and your own personal staff to help you.”
“Hey, it would be a waste of resources not to use them.”
Aerith just shook her head, but she was smiling.
“What about you and Jhaeros?” I asked.
“Nope,” Aerith said. “We already have the perfect daughter and family dynamic. We’re content. I’ll leave the baby-making to you.”
I scowled. Ugh, seriously, sometimes I felt like I was living in an alternative world where I was mated to two Fae kings and we had three children. Wait. Right. That was my actual life now. Truthfully, I loved every day of it.
I mean, it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Take my dad, for instance. Sometimes I couldn’t invite him over when Aerith was mad at him, like right now. He’d gone and suggested it was never too early to arrange a match between Fraya and a noble or royal Fae—seeing as I had connections in Faerie. Yeah, that had gone over as well as a wet fart with Aerith.
Redheads had a reputation of being temperamental, which—sure—but I was way more forgiving than Aerith. I’d given money to Shalendra when her wine shop went through a rough patch—and I don’t like wine!
I even put up with Sarfina during our time at the castle. She stayed with Teryani at Ravensburg whenever we were gone. When we were at Dahlquist, she was always fawning all over Lyklor, which I knew drove him nuts. The only female he wanted attention from was me. It made Ryo and me laugh. Hey, I never said I was a saint. I mean, who is? We do the best with what life throws our way. Sometimes it’s better to walk away. Sometimes it’s not.
I got lucky. I found love where I least expected, and I will hold on to it with everything I have. It is sacred. It is binding. It is eternal . . .
And sweet as berries.
###
The Royal Conquest Saga continues with the Royal Conquest Heirs. These shorter, romantic reads kick off with Holiday Crown. Continue readi
ng for a scene between Fraya and her secret crush in Faerie.
Holiday Crown Excerpt
Fraya
I kept my attention on the task of untangling faerie lights as my parents left the parlor with Folas and my cousins.
The sound of breaking glass sent all eyes to Gayla, who cringed as she stood over a shattered reindeer ornament.
“I’m sorry!” she cried. “It fell out of my hand.”
“There, there. We have plenty more,” Uncle Ryo said, going straight to Gayla and bending on one knee to give her a gentle pat. I swear he doted on her more than her own father did. Folas was the stoic sort. A loyal guard and reliable parent where his mate had failed.
Gayla stared at my uncle’s head. “We should decorate your crown for Christmas,” she said.
Uncle Ryo chuckled and touched the golden circlet. “Do you think a bit of garland would make it more festive?”
Gayla nodded eagerly. She always brought out my smile. She was such a cute, sweet little Fae girl.
Getting up and taking her hand, my uncle led her toward the open doors. “Let’s see if we can find some in the hallway.”
My heart rate kicked up as they left. I hurried with the lights, which weren’t that bad to begin with, and rewound them into tidy loops.
“These are ready,” I announced, avoiding eye contact with Alok as I set the lights on the armrest of a chair filled with ornaments. “I’ll see if there are any more decorations in the attic.”
“We got them all, Miss Fraya,” Lulu said.
“Wonderful. Thank you, Lulu. I suppose there’s not much else to be done until my parents return with the tree.” I swept out of the room.
Reaching the corridor, I took off in the opposite direction of my uncle and Gayla. Luckily, they were preoccupied as Uncle Ryo lifted Gayla up, and she yanked pieces of greenery from a wreath. They looked so cute. I hoped he and Uncle Lyklor got the daughter they were hoping for. Whatever the gender, I was excited to cuddle my new baby cousin in my arms. I loved all my cousins, and since my aunt Shalendra didn’t want kids, I was happy Aunt Mel had grown her family.
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