CHAPTER 33
It worked, the curse on the Fae is broken.
What I wasn’t prepared for is the searing pain radiating through my back when I wake.
My death was peaceful and with it, I felt my mates drop, their link to me severing only to renew stronger.
I can feel them on an entirely different level, Matitus and Silas stronger though.
It is hard to explain, but maybe it is because they already bare my mark.
Waking up. I feel a strange sensation, like I had been holding my breath, and I suddenly have to force myself to breathe.
But the pain in my lungs is nothing compared to the pain radiating from between my shoulder blades.
The kind of pain where you would rather die, my spine feels like it is somehow being rearranged.
It is all I can focus on as I claw at it, trying to get it to stop.
Then, I feel something within me snap, like when an elastic band reaches its limit, the force of my magic bursting makes me scream and I feel a violent rush leave me.
The pain in my back leaves me breathless when it suddenly stops.
I can feel the warmth of my blood trickling down my back and something else, something I have never felt before.
Looking over my shoulder I gasp at what I see. I have wings.
Fae used to have wings, my grandmother didn’t even have wings, but I heard stories of what they represent from her.
Only the blessed were granted them. Those that possessed them, were considered gifted or had made our gods proud through a good deed.
Only those blessed by the fates and of a royal bloodline carried wings.
The last Fae on record to possess wings was the King of Fae.
My grandmother’s great grandfather was the last known royal to be granted wings by our ancestors.
So, I stand there, in shock that I have them.
I don’t think I’ve done anything remarkable to earn them.
They are beautiful, crystal-like and light but so strong.
I can feel my magic flowing within them, feel the power I possess.
I am so awe struck by them I don’t realize what is going on around me until I hear Claire’s little voice.
“The Queen of Draquin has been reborn.”
That’s when I notice them, looking out at the crowd I almost cry at the sight, glowing brightly back at me are my people.
Fae, the silver light in their eyes left no doubt.
We aren’t extinct, Fae survived just like I believed, hiding in the shadows like we had.
We had survived. The crowd parts, letting them through.
Around a hundred Fae move forward out of the crowd, stepping in front of me.
Silver eyes glowing with excitement as well as another set of eyes, ones I had only heard of because they were the eyes only given to those of noble blood.
Dazzling aqua eyes step forward and I know instantly that some of the royal families survived, those my family ruled alongside all those years ago.
Silver eyes are held by common Fae, Aqua eyes are a Helcate trait just like my amethyst ones are an Aziza one.
A man steps forward and I rise to greet him.
His blond hair is tied into a ponytail. He carries himself in a certain way that oozes authority, even after decades of failure he is proud to be Fae, proud to be royal.
What shocks me more is that when he steps forward, he drops in front of me on one knee.
The Dragon Kings step beside me, although they look like they are still recovering from what happened, yet that didn’t stop their jealousy of a man being near what is theirs.
“My Queen, I am Aldrin of the Royal bloodline of Helcate,” he says, bowing his head slightly.
“I know my Lord; please rise you don’t need to bow for me,” I tell him, a little embarrassed that he did. He shakes his head.
“Our families have ruled beside each other before the war, we all owe you a great amount for what you have just blessed us with, for what you have returned to us,” he says.
Silas growls, stepping forward at his words. Aldrin puts up his hands in surrender, and I can tell he meant no harm, no insult to the Kings. I hope Silas can see that.
“Forgive me my Lords, I am not here to take your mate. This isn’t me coming forward and asking her hand, I know she has mates and I have my own,” he says, and Silas growls and Matitus steps forward.
“Then what are you doing then Fae?” he asks looking out at the crowd. I feel shock ripple through them, they truly felt they eradicated my kind.
Another Fae steps forward with a child. She appears to be a common Fae, but the child in her arms was no doubt of the royal blood of Helcate.
“This is my wife, Talia and my son Aldo.”
I nod when suddenly she drops to one knee, I try to get her to stand embarrassed that everyone thinks they need to bow to me, we are the same.
“Please don’t bow,” I tell her, but she shakes her head when suddenly everyone takes a knee, like a wave the entire crowd even the humans bow down making me gasp.
When I hear Aldrin’s voice echo through the night, his voice is melodious and clear.
“I, Aldrin, blood of Helcate, pledge allegiance to Elora Aziza, Queen of the Draquin Kingdom and Queen of the Fae,” he says, making me stumble back slightly shocked.
The entire crowd in a collective murmur speaking. “We pledge allegiance to our Queen Elora Aziza, Queen of the Draquin Kingdom.
“You want me to rule?” I ask, shocked.
“You are the rightful heir, those wings on your back prove it, you were born for this. Blessed with gifts bestowed by our ancestors, you blessed us and who better to know the struggle of the kingdom better than a Queen who lived through it,” Aldrin tells me.
“But this isn’t my kingdom, this kingdom belongs to the Dragon Kings,” I tell him.
“Wherever you go we will follow, my Queen, whether it be here or somewhere else, we promise to remain loyal to the Aziza bloodline. You sacrificed your life for your people and the people of this kingdom,” he says, and I see the entire crowd agree.
Silas growls but no one moves. “I will not hand my kingdom over to the Fae, this is my kingdom. Fae started the war,” he says, stepping forward when Matitus grabs his arm.
“You’re right my King but she ended it,” Aldrin tells him, “either way she is your mate is she not, or were you keeping her against her will?”
I have to give Aldrin one thing, he is brave standing up to a Dragon, his stare remains unwavering.
I can tell he holds no fear and had faith that I wouldn’t allow Silas to kill him for speaking out.
He is right, I am not going to let my people down even if it is against my own mates.
I have sacrificed enough and so have the Fae, so has this kingdom.
Dragus walks over to Aldrin, and at first I think he is going to do something.
I step forward, my magic ready on the surface, I am willing to protect Aldrin and the rest if needed.
But Dragus doesn’t do anything. Instead, he drops to his knee alongside him when suddenly Matitus joins him.
Two majestic Dragons bowing for a Fae, for someone lower on the food chain.
“I, King Dragus of Draquin, pledge allegiance to my Queen, Elora Aziza the Queen of Draquin and promise to rule alongside her for as long as she will have me,” Dragus speaks, his eyes not leaving mine.
Matitus announces the same thing. Tears spring in my eyes, they would give up their kingdom for me, just to keep me by their side, they would sacrifice their kingdom for me and the people in it.
Everyone looks to Silas, and I can feel his burning anger through the bond and I know he feels betrayed, like I took his kingdom from him. That betrayal only worsens when he sees Matitus and Dragus agree to it.
“You would hand our kingdom over to the Fae!” he bellows.
“No, I hand our kingdom over to our mate,” Matitus answers.
Silas roars, the Dragon part of him coming forward, his entire body trembling.
Yet I remain calm turning toward him. “This was supposed to break the curse on the Dragons, not turn my mates against me, not bring about all this!” he yells at me.
“This is my kingdom. I will not bow down to the Fae.” When I say nothing, he turns around and storms away.