32. Return to Ryven
32
RETURN TO RYVEN
WYNSTELLE
I open my eyes to see my mates on the temple floor, surrounding me. Jaden and Eldrin are sitting on each side. Oakes is above my head. I want to get up and hold them. I need to know they are real. That I’m real.
I try to move, and I immediately feel a searing pain within my body. The pain is like being burned in the foundry, with incredible flesh-melting heat, but the burning comes from the inside.
“Stars!” I cry out. “It hurts!”
“I know, love,” Jaden coos, leaning over me and stroking my cheek. “Just breathe through it. Feel the magic, even if it’s too much, and get it to flow smoothly within you. I’m sorry, I could only help so much in making your body able to withstand it. The rest of the process is up to you to control.”
I take short, quick breaths, squeezing my eyes shut. Then I focus my mind on accessing the magic within me. The mate bond connection between my elves and me pulses like never before. Somehow, the transfer of energy has only strengthened our bond. Also, I don’t find the fracture in my soul that Idril created in order to drain us.
“I can feel you so strongly!” I open my eyes and grab desperately at all three of them as they cluster around me.
Jaden presses a kiss to my lips. Oakes snatches up my hand and kisses it, clenching it. Eldrin rests his head on my chest, hugging me and basking in my presence.
My heart swells with love. Slowly, the magic harmonizes with my body, becoming fully integrated. The pain subsides, but it doesn’t go away completely.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you,” the elves respond in unison.
Within a few hours, I’ve recovered enough to move on my own, although I’m still not alright. I can walk, and I count that as a win. I didn’t expect to survive today.
Twyla awakened from her spell when Idril died and is recovering from the nightmare’s haze.
After Eldrin is certain of my well-being, he calls our group together, including our Elven guards, Mage Neven, Merlara, Twyla, and Rhys. Jaden and Oakes stay close to me and both have their arms around my waist as if I might blow away with the wind.
I fear they aren’t wrong. I’m still not back to my full strength physically yet.
Once we are all gathered in the reception hall, Eldrin says, “As much as I’d like to rest longer to see after Wyn’s recovery, I must deal with recent events. I need to return to Ryven castle and claim the throne. I’ll call the castle’s residents back and announce my father’s death and that the bid for war will not happen—not under my reign.”
“And I will return to King Nathaniel,” Twyla says while clinging to Rhys to stay upright. “I will inform him Mage Idril has been stopped, and King Magnus and Commander Turgon are dead.”
Rhys’s arm is wrapped around the changeling’s waist in a possessive hold. Finally, the two of them have initiated a relationship.
“I’ll take my men with me unless you think you will need further assistance,” Rhys says.
“No, without Turgon and Idril to encourage strife, I should be alright now.” Eldrin declines Rhys’ offer with a thankful smile. “I’ve told Lalo to spread the word about the change of leadership.” His voice grows tight, and he shifts uncomfortably at the thought of taking his father’s role. “Goddess, I wish it hadn’t come to this.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you will make a fine king,” Twyla says with a sincere smile. “Besides, you have Wynstelle to keep you grounded and well behaved.” She winks at me.
I chuckle, and Eldrin holds his hand out to me.
I take it, and he guides me out of Jaden’s and Oakes’ hold. He presses my body to his side and gives my cheek a kiss. “Wyn would have the Elven crown if I could give it to her.”
“They need a member of the fae to lead them,” I scold, staring lovingly into Eldrin’s stormy eyes and getting lost in them.
“Actually, Wynstelle,” Neven interrupts, “when you took Idril’s power, and then because of Jaden’s magic of transformation, you have become more fae than human. You are now a wonderful blend of the two species, with the power of an Elven mage.”
“I thought I felt different. But I didn’t realize I was no longer human,” I say, my mouth falling open in awe as I look at my raven-haired mate, Jaden.
“Speaking of your power, I hope you allow me to train you to control your new magic—both you and Jaden.” Neven offers a slight smile.
“I can’t believe I somehow gifted him with such a powerful magic,” I murmur.
“Idril created exactly what she was trying to stop. We both had a vision. The magic you released from Idril’s hoard and transformed today has shifted the realms. Through your bond with your mates, you and other future Elven-human couplings could result in offspring.”
“But how?” My hand hovers over my belly as if I carried babies now.
“From what my vision showed me, Idril has been preventing the pairings for almost a thousand years. You have released her stolen magic back into the realms. Along with the magic enhancing your mating bonds, you effectively have unlocked and reversed Idril’s spell. You have further empowered future blended generations with a kind of magic that they might not have had otherwise.”
My eyes widen, gazing out into the distance and wondering what the future might hold. “I did all that? It seems impossible,” I say in disbelief.
Twyla brings me back to the moment when she says, “Changeling sister, I must deliver the news about the end of Turgon’s and Idril’s warmongering to my father. I hope he sees the wisdom of letting the ghoul attack be a tragic incident that deserves no retaliation.”
Rhys adds, “Then we must convince King Nathaniel to remove the humans who are draining the Elven lands of magic.”
“I can send elves to help rebuild the village, if they will accept the help,” Eldrin offers.
“I will pass that along.” Twyla nods appreciatively. “I wish you all the best. And Wyn, I pray this isn’t the last time that I see you.”
I reach out to hold Twyla’s hand. “I wish we had our bond again so that I could still sense that you were alright.”
She pulls me into a proper embrace. “I believe we will know if anything were to happen to the other. A bond like ours isn’t so easily severed, not even with magic.”
“Stay safe, my sister.” I squeeze her hand and reluctantly let go.
Back at the castle, all the fae are returning—elves, brownies, flower fairies, and the rest gather in the massive main courtyard.
Eldrin greets them from the king’s balcony. Jaden, Oakes, and I stand a step or two behind the soon-to-be king.
“Welcome back to Ryven Castle,” Eldrin’s voice booms over the crowd. “I’m certain that most of you now know about the war my father was waging in the human realm. This war would have benefited no one on either side, just as the previous war twenty years ago only won us heartbreak and death. I set out to stop this war before it had a chance to destroy us all. Unfortunately, I found out too late that Mage Idril had manipulated my father for years. In his last moments alive, King Magnus broke free from the mage’s spell. He told me he didn’t want a war. I discovered it was part of the horrific plans concocted by Commander Turgon and the Unseelie Mage. I will mourn his tragic end. Let us all take a moment to wish the goddess embraces his soul, and he finds peace.”
Eldrin pauses, and the crowd is silent with the prayer.
After a moment, Eldrin announces, “I claim the throne as is my right in succession.” Then my prince reaches back for me.
I step up to his side, placing my hand in his. My nerves rattle with the attention of thousands upon me. I worry about how they will react to my place in his court and what he’s about to say.
He holds my arm high, displaying to everyone his bond with me—a human. “I have claimed a mortal-born princess as my mate. I also proclaim that humans will now be considered equals among elves in my kingdom.”
A murmur goes through the crowd. Some are surprised by our mating, but some are also surprised Eldrin would extend the same rights as elves to other humans.
Eldrin continues. “My hand-picked cadre will visit all those with human servants. Every human in Ryven will be asked if they wish to return to their realm, live free among us, or remain with their keepers, but as paid workers, just as if they were Elven. I also vow to convince the other Elven leaders to do the same. Keeping slaves will no longer be tolerated in my kingdom. All sentient beings living in our fae realm will be treated fairly and as equals—from flower faeries to ghouls, from high elves to humans. We all have a right to pursue happiness, as long as it does not harm another.”
The flower faeries buzz with excitement. The high elves stand wide-eyed in shock.
Jaden steps forward, places a simple golden crown on Eldrin’s head, and shouts, “Long live the king!”
The crowd echoes the sentiment. Then the chant grows louder and resounds with more enthusiasm.
After Eldrin’s announcement, we walk the halls with our trusted guards encircling us. The castle vibrates with energy and life once again.
Proudly, I smile at Eldrin and squeeze his hand. He’s proving to be an honorable king with just his first proclamation.
All are free.
As we pass, a few of the elves in residence bow to Eldrin and then to me, acknowledging both of our stations.
“We need a proper bonding ceremony for the public,” Eldrin says with a seductive grin and a suggestive wink.
My eyes widen in surprise. I hiss quietly so that only Eldrin can hear me. “I wo n’t have sex in front of everyone!”
Apparently I’m not quiet enough, Jaden and Oakes overhear my protest and chuckle.
Moving closer, Jaden threads his arm with mine and stops our procession. He leans in and nuzzles my neck, inhaling my scent. I shiver with excitement, but I won’t be swayed by this.
“But my sweet mate…” Jaden pouts. “We want to display every moment of our love for you so that everyone can see.”
I shake my head vehemently. “No. I’m drawing a line.”
Eldrin leans over to kiss my cheek while Jaden holds me. “Please?” he whines.
“I might have embraced being intimate with all of you at once, but I don’t want anyone else to watch us! Stars! You cannot make me do that.” I fuss, trying to break out of Jaden’s hold.
Finally, Oakes eases my worries. “Wyn, there’s no sex during the public ceremony. However, afterward, in private, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
“You naughty imps.” I smack Jaden’s shoulder. “Why did you make me so flustered?”
“Because you’re adorable when you’re flustered,” Jaden says, unrepentant. He nibbles on my ear and I melt into his embrace.
“Well, I suppose a proper bonding ceremony will be acceptable.” I wave my hand with an air of mock superiority.