Chapter 15 #2
Why was I crying so much today? I nodded against her shoulder. “You don’t have to make anything up to me. You’ve already shown me how much you regret everything that’s happened. I hope you always come around. Wherever I am, you will be welcomed.”
Mom gave me a gentle squeeze. “And you as well. My realm is always open.” She stepped away. “The Lord is pacing back and forth by the door, waiting to return to you. Do not make him wait too much longer, darling. The male and the bear inside him are getting very antsy.”
She disappeared in a swirl of light. The door opened immediately, and a moment later, Rowan’s head peeked around the corner. “Everyone gone?”
I nodded. “Finally. Moira took the baby, but I expect you will be slammed with visitors this evening.”
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “I expect you’re right.” A ring of gold appeared around his iris. “I can think of far better things to do than entertain visitors.”
I laughed. “Patience. We have the rest of our lives, don’t we?”
Rowan let out a frustrated growl and reached for me just as the outside door opened.
He closed his eyes and let out a soft curse. “I’m about to lose it,” he whispered.
Dad’s magic reached us before he did. I stifled my sigh. Everyone was bound and determined to keep us apart today.
“He’s bound to be hungry,” I said, extricating myself from Rowan’s tight grip. I brushed a quick kiss over his lips and turned to face my father.
“Hey, Dad.”
Cernunnos was in his full-on god form today, complete with ceiling scraping antlers. He appeared like this when he was on official business, had come from official business, or just wanted to be scary that particular day.
Unfortunately for me, I never knew which one it was until he told me.
He had to duck to pass through the hallway to get into the kitchen. When he rose to his full height, I noticed his eyes swirling with power.
I willed myself to be calm. “You hungry?”
Dad stared at me for a long moment, and I waited, silently, Rowan still and quiet beside me.
After a moment, he blinked and his eyes bled to his normal greenish gold, only a little swirly.
The antlers retreated into his head, and his outfit morphed from buckskin to a pair of dark trousers and a pullover sweater, more formal than his usual joggers and t-shirt, but still normal enough not to freak me out.
“There you are,” I said lightly. “Want a grilled cheese?”
Dad nodded and sank into one of the chairs with a groan. I turned away to fix him some lunch, giving Rowan a sharp shake of my head to warn him to give my Dad time to decompress.
Rowan went to the fridge and got the sandwich fixings out while I readied the pan.
Dad didn’t say a word the entire time. When I set two sandwiches in front of him with a glass of tea, I sat across from him, Rowan to my right, and waited.
He scarfed the entire thing down and drained his tea. I got up and refilled his glass, keeping the pitcher next to me in case he needed another refill.
Dad drank the second glass too. When he finished, he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I said nothing else.
Dad remained quiet for a few moments. He looked at Rowan and narrowed his eyes. “Ah. I see.”
I resisted the urge to squirm uncomfortably.
“This is why I’m here, actually.” Dad let out a sad laugh.
I straightened. “Because of Rowan?”
“Our people are not…enthused about the potential for a shifter king.”
Rowan froze beside me.
“Granted, they think Rowan is a much better choice than the other Lord, but they wish to be led by someone who is of pure fae blood.”
Rowan started to rise from the table, his face an expressionless mask. “I’ll give you two some time to discuss.”
I took Rowan by the hand and tugged him back down.
“Evie, it’s fine—”
“It is not fine,” I said quietly. Rage roared through my veins.
“The bond can still fade.”
I turned to face Rowan. A crimson light washed over his face. Rowan swallowed and went still.
“Be. Quiet.” When he gave me a sharp nod, I returned my attention to my father.
“The people that abandoned me now dare to make demands of me?”
Dad blinked, a furrow appearing between his brows. “Evie, you are the queen—”
If I heard that one more time, I was going to set something on fire.
“I am fully aware of what I am and what I am not. I am also fully aware of what you made me to be and know you are the reason I currently wear the fae crown. Under duress, by the way. And I know that you did not answer my question.”
My father’s eyes narrowed. “There is required decorum, a set precedent of past kings. I was reminded so earlier today by a few well-meaning friends.”
I snorted. “Well-meaning. I can see how you might say that since every single fae I’ve met so far has been nothing but well-meaning to me.”
“You’re angry.” The words were a flat declaration.
“You seem to be under the impression I should roll over and do what they want. You think I should abandon Rowan and take some poor fae male who, by the way, would not know how to deal with me, nor would he want to, as my husband.”
“You’d be surprised by who would want to deal with you,” Dad said under his breath.
I bared my teeth. “That is not the point. I might be the fae queen, but there is no law on who I take to my bed or mate with, correct?”
Dad’s jaw tightened. “There is no law, only an expectation—”
“I do not give a shit about expectations!” I rose from the seat and paced back and forth. “I am happy for the first time in my entire life. Truly happy. Things will never be perfect. That’s not how life works. But they are good. I love Rowan.”
Rowan’s irises glowed at my declaration.
“I plan to finish the bond. Not today, maybe not even tomorrow, but soon. And that is not all.”
Rowan blinked. He tilted his head, an animalistic gesture, all his focus on me.
“A fae bond forms between us.”
Rowan sucked in a shocked breath, surprised at my admission to my father.
“I am not inclined to deny it.” I met Rowan’s gaze. “If Rowan allows it, I plan to bond with him in both ways—the animals and fae sides of my nature. If he will have me.”
Rowan blinked several times. “I’ve felt the tug for a while now and couldn’t figure out what it was,” he said hoarsely.
Dad’s face took on a contemplative look. “You’d shun your people over this?”
I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. “They are my people in blood only. The only fae who’ve ever stepped in to assist me with anything have been you and Mom, and that was only recently.
As far as I’m concerned, they can take their opinions on who I choose to love and shove them right where the sun don’t shine. ”
Dad looked at Rowan. “And you?”
Rowan chuckled. “Would you let someone like her walk away from you?”
His words seemed to be the right answer. Dad dipped his head. “Unfortunately, I have, and I regret the decision every single day.”
“Don’t make me choose,” I said quietly. “You know how it will go, and I will never look at you the same. This is not up for debate. I will not allow people to choose how they feel I should be happy. That’s forced servitude.
If I am to be their queen, I will make my own decisions on this matter.
As they should make those decisions for themselves. ”
Dad’s eyes began swirling again. “Is this your final answer?”
“It’s always been my final answer. When are you going to stop asking the question?”
Dad’s lips twitched. He rose and held out his hand. “Come. Both of you.”
I let him lead me outside, Rowan following behind. Dad led us to the middle of the Keep, close to where we trained. He stopped and let go of my hand. “Rowan, will you briefly drop your wards?”
“Why?” Rowan’s tone wasn’t angry, more curious than anything.
“I need a few witnesses.”
Rowan glanced at me. I shrugged. “No idea,” I mouthed.
“Thirty seconds enough?” he asked.
Dad nodded.
Rowan’s eyes flashed gold. The wards shimmered away. Dad’s form morphed back into his god form, his eyes swirling with multiple colors. Several flashes of light appeared.
Mom stood beside my father, and a couple of the people I met in the Hall of Fae arrived next. Birch showed up, and strangely enough, Ethan was there as well, looking decidedly nonplussed.
“Call for Moira,” Dad murmured. “And your banshee and dryad friend.”
“I will do it,” Rowan said. Our gazes locked, and he gave me a short nod.
I shot a hurried text to Moira.
Leave the baby with a trusted person.
The wards went back up. Moira, Ash, and Tess appeared a few minutes later, quizzical looks on their faces. Moira came up beside me. “What’s going on?”
“I think Dad might be about to strip my crown,” I whispered back.
Moira’s attention snapped to me. “What happened?”
“I won’t marry a prancing fae male.” I said it a little louder than I should have.
Dad shot me a dark but amused look. I wiggled my fingers at him. He shook his head and looked away.
“Evie. Rowan. Please come.”
Rowan held his hand out. I interlaced my fingers between his, and we walked to my father.
“Do you know what’s going on?” he whispered.
“Not a clue. I might not be queen in a minute, though.”
Rowan slid me a look of surprise. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Not even a little bit,” I murmured. One less thing on my plate. I hadn’t even started my duties yet, nor had I told Rowan about my deal with my parents.
One thing at a time, Evie.
I squared my shoulders and stopped before my father. A silvery light appeared above my head. Rowan glanced up and hid his smile. The fae crown swirled and glinted around his tousled hair.
“Thank you to everyone who answered my summons today.” Dad’s voice boomed across the land.