A Final Plea
*Rafe*
“Are you ready?” Percival asks.
The man looks ragged. Whatever he does to make sure I don’t keel over is really taking its toll. For that reason alone, I need to make sure Howard sees the light. I’m afraid Percival is going to die instead of me.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I admit. I step out of the carriage as it rolls to a stop in front of Howard’s very luxurious looking home.
Karl is there to greet me with a wide smile and a warm arm clasp. “Rafe. You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” I reply with a laugh. “You look great.”
Howard stands off to the side, eyeing me contemptuously.
We are already off to a bad start, it would seem. “Alpha King Howard,” I say with a slight nod.
“King Rafe.” He responds coolly. “Shall we retire to the conference room? It seems we have a lot to discuss.”
“Where is Ainslee?” I ask.
“In her bedroom. Lying down. I didn’t think she needed to be here for this,” he replies.
My heart thumps in my chest, screaming to tear past the two Alpha Kings and find her. But that isn’t going to get me anywhere but dead. And then Ainslee will die, and so will our daughter. I decide not to use the mind-link to speak to her just yet. Let her rest.
I turn my head as Percival clears his throat. “Might I see the Luna Queen?” he asks. “I think I can help with her pain.”
Howard frowns at him. “And who are you?”
“I am Percival Strongwind, mayor of New Hybridia,” he replies. “And half-fae, so, I have some magic.”
“‘New Hybridia’?” Howard echoes, looking the tall man up and down. “What’s that?”
“Hybridia was a self-governing town of hybrids in Tormentia. They asked to be granted asylum in Shadowglade. At first, it was Princess Sophia who welcomed them, then Regent Zeke Winters, then myself when I returned home,” I explain. “New Hybridia will be built up in the north. The hybrid peoples of New Hybridia want to help rebuild what was lost.”
Howard blinks. “A generous, but difficult undertaking, I must say, if my reports are anything to go by. I think Shadowglade lost most of its northern population, fields, and structures.”
“They also welcomed us with open arms,” Percival says. “We want to show those who have been misinformed by Tormentia that hybrids are not as bad as you think.”
“Well, Mr. Strongwind, if you think you can help Ainslee, I will send you to her room with her fiancé.” He looks behind him and I see, for the first time, the dreaded man in my dreams. “Marcus?”
“I will show our guest to Ainslee’s room,” he agrees.
“And don’t leave him there alone with her, either. Goddess only knows what other tricks King Rafe has up his sleeves.” Howard grunts.
My eyes narrow at the insult, but I don’t say anything.
Marcus doesn’t look any more happy about this arrangement than I am. He nods to us and leads Percival into the house.
Our second carriage bumps to a stop just before I am about to enter the house with Howard and Karl.
“Sorry,” Sophia says, jumping down. “We got stuck in the mud a few miles back. Karl, good to see you.” Her cheeks flush.
“Sophia.” Karl draws the name out in a sexy tone.
Howard rolls his eyes. “Ugh. Vampire glamor everywhere.”
Sophia and Karl both stare daggers at Howard.
Behind Sophia, Scott steps down from the carriage, carefully holding Drake in his arms.
My heart softens. “How is he doing?” I ask him.
“All the rocking kept him asleep until we hit that mud hole. I just got him calmed down,” he says. He walks over to me and deposits Drake in my arms.
Drake gurgles and tries to grab my nose.
I hear Howard swallowing hard and look back at him. His eyes are wide as he stares at the baby.
“I know he looks a lot like me,” I reply to Howard’s unspoken question. “But he has Mommy and Grandpa’s eyes.”
Drake takes that opportunity to blink at his grandpa. He gurgles again and makes grabby motions with his chubby little hands.
“C-can I hold him?” Howard asks, his expression one of surprise. He probably hadn’t expected those words to come out of his mouth.
I nod and hand Drake to his grandfather.
He tucks Drake into one arm and gazes down at the little face.
Drake grabs his grandpa’s chin.
That makes Howard laugh. “Feisty little guy.”
“He just came back from a rather unplanned vacation,” I say. “I don’t recommend northern Rallegrad.”
“The people taking care of him were atrocious,” Scott grunts. “That wench shook him!”
Howard pales. “Is he all right?” he asks, poking and prodding at Drake while he giggles.
“As far as Jerim, my doctor, could tell, he’s fine,” I respond.
Howard sags with relief. “Good, good.” He tickles Drake under the chin, and the baby squeals happily. “You’re a handsome little devil. Are you hungry?”
“He will be in about an hour,” Scott says. “I’m trying to keep him on a schedule.”
That made Howard laugh. “Oh, I think your nanny will be upset if I feed you now. Let’s go get some milk.”
Scott grumbles under his breath but follows after him.
We end up reconvening in the kitchen, Howard happily feeding Drake a bottle of milk, the rest of us leaning against counters, tables, and the cold stove.
“I have a whole speech planned, if you want to hear it,” I say as soon as we’re all settled.
Howard looks up from rocking Drake. He glances down at his grandson, then back at me, then sighs. “You’re not actually using any kind of glamor, are you?”
“No,” I respond emphatically. “I’m not.”
With a sigh, he goes to the wall and rings a bell.
A wolf shifter woman I vaguely recognize comes into the kitchen. “Your Majesty? How did you know I would be in Luna Queen Ainslee’s room?”
“Because you always are, Lucia,” he replies. “Is she still in a bad way?”
“Yes, though whatever Percival did has made me less worried for her safety. I am, however, now very worried about his. Percival collapsed,” she says anxiously.
“Oh dear.” Howard looks deeply concerned. “Get him set up in a guest room. And then go get the healer.”
“At once, Your Majesty,” she responds and scampers off.
I push away from the counter. “I should go see to Percy. He’s the only reason I’m standing before you now and was not brought in on a stretcher.”
“No,” Howard says.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” I gape.
“I mean that poor Percival is killing himself keeping Ainslee and you from dying of a severed mate bond,” he replies slowly. “I see the best solution to this as being you going to Ainslee and rectifying the situation, rather than standing around Percival while you’re still in pain.”
My heartbeat picks up speed. “You’re going to let me see Ainslee?”
“You’re her husband and her mate, are you not?” he points out.
I sag with relief. “Thank you. I’ll go see her now.”
“I’ll call for Marcus. He’ll take you there,” he says.
My stomach roils. Marcus is probably the last person I want to see. But if he’s going to take me to Ainslee, I suppose I can put up with him.
Soon, the dreaded man from my dreams steps into the kitchen. “You called, Your Majesty?”
“Take His Majesty King Rafe to see Ainslee,” Howard tells him. “And then, at some point, you really ought to mark your mate.”
Marcus stiffens. “Your Majesty, I still must protest. Ainslee and I are not mates.”
“No, no. I mean your real mate.” Howard waves a hand. “Off with you, now. I’m afraid this one might keel over, too, in a minute, and we only have one fae here.”
“Oh.” Marcus blinks at me then gestures for me to follow him. “Right this way, Your Majesty.”
I follow him out of the kitchen and to a separate part of the house clearly meant as a family residence.
“That must have been some speech,” he says to me as we walk.
“No. More like a chubby little face with green eyes and an enchanting smile.” I chuckle.
He laughs as well. “Babies are magic.”
“So are mate bonds.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I wish you every happiness with whoever she is.”
“Lucia,” he replies. “Her name is Lucia Horn.”
I smack myself in the forehead. “Lucia Horn! She was at the last Culling!”
“She escaped.” His wolfish grin is filled with pride. “Of course, Ainslee helped.”
“Of course she did.” We stop before a door, and he knocks.
“Yes?” the weak voice of my Ainslee filters through the wood.
“Ainslee, I have a surprise for you,” he says, smiling at me.
She gives a long sigh. “Unless it’s Rafe, please just leave it at the door. I don’t need any more tea right now. But do go check on poor Percival. Whatever he’s doing to keep Rafe and me healthy comes with a very high cost, I think.”
“I’ll go check on him.” He opens the door.
“I thought I said…” she trails off, looking at me.
“You said unless it was Rafe. This is Rafe,” he says, gesturing at me.
Shakily, Ainslee tries to get out of bed, but I push past Marcus so that I can get there before she does something to hurt herself. “Darling, just lie down. I’m here. We can snuggle, but please stay there until you’re feeling better.”
She bursts into tears and hugs me as I wriggle into bed next to her.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Marcus closes the door.