Chapter 63

Xzander sat up, looking around at the now empty clearing. “You did it.”

“Thanks to you.” I clasped his hand and Simeon’s, my emotions of relief yet despair at the costs choking me. The price of winning was too much to bear. “And you and Malcolm an—”

“If you say Darrius, I’m going to argue with you.” Simeon winked. “He’s done nothing but lay around all this time.”

I hiccupped a laugh cry because he was right, but my stomach tangling in knots any way at losing Malcolm and my best friend.

“And he’s going to be furious when he wakes up that he missed the fun,” Xzander added, knowing Darrius as well as the rest of us. “And I would be honored to be your fourth prince… and lover if you’ll have me.”

I glanced at Simeon, trying to keep the yearning hope out of my expression because I really did want his and the other’s agreement without coercion. Could three Seelie princes and an Unseelie prince find peace with me? I felt like I was holding my breath as Simeon thought.

“Don’t know about Darrius or Malcolm.” Simeon clapped Xzander on the back. “But Xzander has proven himself to me.”

I launched myself at both of them. Hugging them and they wrapped their arms around me.

When we finally pulled apart, Simeon looked over my shoulder. “What about Malcolm?”

“H-he sacrificed himself to get me out.”

Simeon frowned, staring from me to the barrier and back. “But we can get him back, right?”

“I don’t know how, but if there’s a way— I’ll do anything. And I have more magic now. It’s what helped me destroy the shadow kin king.”

“It won’t work.” Xzander shook his head.

“I have to try.” My throat closed and I stood, pain throbbing up my leg and my arm. Guess my healing magic didn’t work on me, 'cause I still felt like runover shit.

“No.” Xzander took my hand in his. “If you use your magic to get Malcolm out, you’ll unleash the beasts again.”

“How do you know?” I asked in a weak voice, not really wanting to hear the answer. Why couldn’t anything be easy?

“It’s happened before.” He gave me a sad smile. “I lost my mother through the barrier. That was how the monster was able to escape as much as he did.”

A chill swept over me. “Why did she cross the barrier?”

“My father and her men had gone inside, hoping to destroy the dark king once and for all, but they never returned.” His amber eyes darkened. “A month after their disappearance, she started to hear voices from the barrier. We tried everything to help her and one night, I found her body next to the dragonroot. By then it was already too late. We hacked up the dragonroot, but it would grow back every moonrise.”

“I’m so sorry.” I clasped his hand. Something we had in common, losing our mothers and I felt a deeper connection with him than I had before. I glanced at the dragonroot with crystal white buds. That had to be a sign, rather than when they were crimson with my blood, that the shadow kin king was gone for good.

“Legends say it happened many times before, ever since the barrier was erected.” Xzander smiled sadly. “Little by little, the shadow kin convinced some poor soul to help them and the monsters trickled out, attacking Fae and human alike. We can’t risk it. Not even for Malcolm.”

I pressed a hand to my heart, feeling empty inside. Tears burned the back of my eyes. I didn’t want to live without Malcolm. Without hearing his sultry voice or deep laugh. Or the way he kissed and touched me. How he held me when we danced and whispered my name.

“There is a way,” said a scratchy voice.

I spun, looking for who spoke. It was just me, Simeon, and Xzander. Oh God, was I starting to hear voices too because of Malcolm?

“Avery,” came the voice again.

“Is that the cat talking?” Xzander rubbed his eyes.

Tinder lifted his cat head, nodding a moment before it flopped back down.

“You can talk?” Simeon gasped.

“Don’t have much time.” Tinder’s emerald eyes stared at me. “Hard to talk in this body. Proud of you.”

Recognition stuck with me and I walked toward Tinder on shaky legs. It couldn’t be. But I’d heard of Unseelie who could use magic to shift into an animal as a defense mechanism. While others used dark magic to do so whenever their life-force was nearly gone as a bargain for more time, except they couldn’t ever change back and often it came with years of amnesia. Was that what happened when the Fae had attacked us when I was a kid? My foster mom had always told me she was proud of me. “Mom?”

“Yes.” The cat smiled back at me. “You save your Malcolm and friend?”

“Maggie?” I asked, tears clogging my throat. “How can I save them?”

“Gave magic up… save you. Buy you time. Now mine is up.”

“No, you can’t go.” I knelt beside her, stroking the black fur. My foster mom wasn’t dead. She’d been watching after me all of this time in the only way she’d been able. The thought of her gone again reopened old wounds and cut me deeper than before. “I-I can’t lose you again.”

“Let me do this.” She panted, her pink tongue hanging out of her mouth. “Have enough for this. My gift to you.”

Tears swelled in my eyes.

Xzander and Simeon knelt on either side of me.

“We vow we will love and protect her,” Xzander said. “You’ve done your duty to all of Fae and we’ll honor your memory forever.”

“Yes.” Simeon nodded. “Thank you.”

“Carry me, Avery, to the border.”

My chest squeezed. “I-I can’t, please don’t make me do this.” I couldn’t lose her again.

Her green eyes pleaded. “It’s okay, Avery. I’ve lived my life…now live yours.”

I nodded because I couldn’t speak. My heart was shattering inside. Gently, I picked her up and carried her to the edge of the barrier, then laid her down.

Xzander and Simeon stood beside me. Only their arms around me kept me upright.

Her body sizzled and she howled. I turned away, burying my face into Xzander's shoulder while Simeon rubbed my back. I shook all over as grief reopened old wounds that I thought nearly healed.

I cried, my body shaking from the sobs.

“Avery?” Maggie’s voice called. “Is that really you?”

“Yeah.” I scrubbed a hand over my nose and rushed to her, hugging her. My heart felt like it was exploding in my chest with happiness and joy. I couldn’t stop crying.

“Why the tears?” She laugh-cried, squeezing me tight. “You saved me.”

“No.” I pulled back, looking at her. “An Unseelie did. My mom.” But where was Malcolm? I searched the barrier for him and found nothing.

A groan sounded from behind me. Malcolm’s body sat up, his hand going to his head.

I faltered. Was it really him?

“Next time I get a cat, remind me to make sure it’s not an Unseelie in disguise.” Malcolm grimaced.

I laughed and ran to him.

“Easy, my side is still cut up.” He hugged me back. “And your mother told me what an idiot I was not to have found you sooner.”

I couldn’t stop smiling. He was alive and Maggie was too. All of us had been given a second chance and I was going to waste it. Wasn’t going to let assumptions cloud my judgment or my love. Me and my men were safe, and my mom had shown me what real love was. That it didn’t matter if someone was Seelie or Unseelie. That our actions proved our hearts. I was the luckiest woman— Fae —on the entire planet.

My life was just beginning, and I planned on making my mom proud. Of stuffing as much joy and love into each day as possible.

But I had to save Darrius. “Come on, we’ve got to hurry. Darrius needs us. We’re running out of time.” My chest hurt just thinking about him. “Anyone know how to get us there pronto without using a damn Kelpie?” Sure, Varaux had been right about the creature and got me here fast. Yet, I wasn’t quite ready to nearly drown again or welcome all shadow kin with open arms.

“I’ll shadow-step us there,” Xzander said. “I can only carry one more besides myself though.”

“Take me,” I volunteered, needing to get the dragonroot to Darrius. Needing to see him and know that this would work. “Varaux is waiting down by the water if the rest of you want to swim with his pet Kelpie?”

“We’ve other horses they can use.” Xzander sounded amused. “You sure you don’t want to go that route, Avery?”

“Nope. Once was plenty.” I took his hand when he offered it, my stomach still in knots about Darrius. I knew that I wouldn’t relax, wouldn’t be able to breathe well until he was healed, and I knew he would be all right.

“I’ll tell Varaux to go back to the castle.” Malcolm nodded.

“And I’ll escort Maggie back to our castle.”

“Thank you,” Maggie said. “I’ll stay with you, Avery, until your Darrius is healed, and we’ve had a chance to talk.”

“I’d like that.” I smiled at her. “Okay, let’s get to Darrius.” I squeezed Xzander’s hand and he returned the gesture. Then I held my breath as we seemed to dart through darkness and shadow.

* * *

“What took ye so freaking long?” Darrius growled as Simeon brought him another ale. “Can’t ye see the blasted dragonroot makes me thirsty?”

“Maybe if you drink water instead?” I held back a laugh.

“And ye, missy.” Darrius glared. “Running around in Unseelie territory, I ought to bend ye over my knee and spank ye.”

“That’s my job.” Xzander rubbed my back. “Good to see you’re feeling better.”

“No thanks to ye.” He lifted his goblet in a mock toast.

The two Fae were grudgingly getting along, but I knew it was only a matter of time before they put aside their pretend annoyance with each other. Darrius had already granted Xzander his nights because he wanted to be fully healed. The big lug thought I didn’t know, but Xzander and I didn’t keep secrets from each other. That was my one rule.

“Now if you gentlemen will excuse me.” I stood. “I’ve got an important appointment to keep.”

They all groaned as I left.

I slipped into my chambers and Maggie stood.

“All good.” I smiled, waving her to return to her seat. “Now, you’ve got to finish telling me all about the Fae men who saved you and when is the wedding again?”

“In a month.” She beamed and continued her story. “And you’ll be my maid-of-honor though we’ll have to fix your dress for your awesome wings.”

I sat back smiling at my friend as she spoke. Both of us had found love where we least expected it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

The End.