Chapter Forty-Six

 

 

King Drostan and Prince Trenton were in the tense space between their armies; glaring at each other from horseback. It was obvious that they had been in the middle of a heated argument when we rode up. The Seelie Army made way for Conall and I as we galloped out to the furious royals. Trenton glanced over at the sound of our approach and then a double take. His eyes widened when he saw us, but Drostan's eyes narrowed.

“I told you to get her to safety!” Trenton roared at Conall.

“Just listen to what she has to say,” Conall said calmly. “Both of you.” He added a grim look at Drostan.

Drostan lost his angry look in favor of a confused one. As both of the fairy royals went warily silent, Conall edged his horse between them and then nodded to me.

“Go ahead, Riley,” Conall said. “Tell them what you want for us.”

“I think I may have a solution,” I said to the King and the Prince. “If you're willing to compromise just a little bit more, Trenton. And if you're willing to let go of your anger, Drostan.”

“What else would you have of me, Riley?” Trenton asked in confusion.

“Drostan,” I said simply as I shifted my stare to Drostan.

Drostan's jaw fell open.

“Don't say it,” Trenton growled. “I just went through hell to get you away from him.”

“I know,” I said gently. “But I don't want these men to pay the price for our love.” I waved a hand at both armies. “And there's one more thing that I've only just realized.”

“What?” Trenton whispered.

“I care for him.”

My words fell into a shocked silence. But then Drostan began to laugh; not a scornful laugh as I was used to, but one filled with happiness, hope, and wonder. We all looked at Drostan with wide eyes.

“Riley,” Drostan declared, “you are the most confounding, amazing, annoying, beautiful, life-altering, intuitive, sexy woman in all the worlds. Not only do you always know exactly what I need but now you seem to know what my kingdom needs as well... what this whole fucking world needs.”

“So, it's not only me you see clearly,” Trenton said softly as he looked at me. Then he turned to stare at Drostan in consideration. “Do you truly love her; enough to enter a Blooding with her and two Seelie men?”

“Fuck me, but I do.” Drostan sighed dismally. “I've fought against my feelings, and I was cruel to her; all of you know that. But it was in self-defense; I knew that she would destroy me. Riley got into my blood, and I couldn't deny her; no matter what I did. I would dream about her and wake with a desperate wanting. Then I'd have to accept the fact that I wasn't the one holding her... that I might never be that man.”

“I can see how that would be rough,” Conall offered grudgingly. “But the things you did to her—”

“I regret them,” Drostan cut him off. “But only because it hurt her. I don't regret that those actions have brought us here. You see; she did destroy me, but only to make me into a new man—a better man. A man who is willing to compromise; simply so that I may be one of the lucky few to be loved by her.”

I looked at the Seelie men and waited; my heart racing. I was tumbling fast into an ocean of emotions, and if Trenton or Conall refused to accept Drostan, I knew that I'd drown in it. After all that he had just revealed, I couldn't let Drostan go. I couldn't let any of them go. I watched with baited breath as Conall nodded to Trenton, and the Prince gave a deep sigh.

“This will be a binding marriage between the four of us,” Trenton said. “You will be forever connected to Seelie, King Drostan. Can you accept that?”

“I believe what you just said is that there will be an unshakable peace between our kingdoms,” Drostan noted with a smirk. “So, yes; I can accept that.”

“I, too, can accept it,” Trenton smiled softly and looked at me. “It seems that my sister was wrong about you, my love. You are not the harbinger of war, but rather; the catalyst of peace.”

“I do my best,” I said with a soft smile.

“One condition,” Drostan added.

We all looked at him warily.

“We finish this here; today,” Drostan said firmly. “I won't let you ride away with Riley while our marriage remains incomplete.”

“So be it,” Trenton agreed. “Summon forth your officiant; he shall unite us all.”

“And the marriage shall be consecrated here as well,” Drostan added. “With all of us; together.”

“Um...” I cleared my throat. “What does that mean?”

“We will all have you on the same night,” Drostan said. “I will not allow it to be said that Prince Trenton consecrated your union first. My people would find insult in it.”

“And mine would be insulted if you were to take her first,” Trenton nodded. “All right, King Drostan; we shall make camp, marry our lady, and have our wedding night together.”