Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
ROWAN
Ilay tangled in Evie, her hair spread out like a fan over my chest. Words could not describe what I felt right now.
Everything about the last few hours had been perfect.
We’d have to come out and face everything that had happened eventually, but for now, I was content to stay here with her, with my mate.
Both fae and shifter. The two bonds had tangled together sometime during our first mating. Our next two encounters solidified the bond into a completely fused thing of light and magic.
All my life I’d never dreamed I’d be so lucky. Never had I thought I’d end up with such a ferociously independent, beautiful, powerful woman lying beside me, completely sated and knowing her, ready to go again the second she opened her eyes.
I couldn’t help the grin spreading over my face.
The last few days had been a whirlwind. I regretted none of it, not the stress, not the worry, not Cernunnos’ obvious attempts to manipulate Evie, though I planned to speak to him later about that.
I couldn’t regret anything because it had led me to this moment with Evie curled against me.
Stars glittered above us, casting Evie’s bare body in silver moonlight. The silent evening was shattered by the sound of hundreds of wolves howling. Evie’s eyes flew open. She took a second to get her bearings.
I dropped a kiss on her nose. “Hi.”
Her eyes glowed a bright silvery azure blue. “Hi.”
All the screaming had made her voice a little hoarse. The bear in me preened at that.
She snorted. “I recall you were a little noisy too.”
“Mmm. Yes. I’d like to do that again and again and again.”
Her cheeks went pink making me laugh. “Do you think everyone heard?”
“I try not to lie to my mate,” I said primly.
“Gods.” Evie buried her face in my chest.
“They would have felt the binding. Every one of my shifters is bonded to me. Now they are bonded to you as well. I’m not sure if they felt the fae bond, though I wouldn’t be surprised, but they definitely knew when the shifter bond was finalized.”
“That’s what it is,” Evie murmured, rubbing the spot on her chest. “I feel you most of all, but there are threads—many, many threads. Those are your people.”
“Yes. You will know when someone is hurt and needs their Lady.”
Evie blinked. “Oh shit. I forgot about that.”
I laughed. “You were too busy ogling my perfect form.”
Evie smacked me on the chest. “The fae bond is powerfully sexual. We’re going to be tired if that one doesn’t calm down.”
“You underestimate my prowess and how much self-control it took not to take you against every flat surface we passed by over these last couple of months.”
Evie snorted, but as she stared into my eyes, her face sobered. “I never asked you if you wanted children.”
I picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm.
“Bears are not especially fertile. Our kind tends to have few children, one to two usually. Some of us are more fortunate. I once knew a mated couple with four cubs.” The chaotic memory made me smile.
“They went through three couches a year and couldn’t keep a kitchen table because of all the wrestling. ”
Evie chuckled.
“They were so blessed.” I let out a heavy exhale. “I love children. I’m in no hurry to have them, but if we were blessed with a cub, I would be the happiest man in the world.” I tugged her closer. “If it’s possible for me to be happier than I am now.”
Evie cupped my cheek. “You are the king of the fae. Are you okay with the title?”
“Too late to do shit about it.”
Evie groaned.
“If we mated, I expected to claim the title. Your father went about this in an underhanded way, but I’m not upset. I would walk through a forest fire for you, what are a few fae? If being king keeps us together, bring me my scepter and guillotine.”
She laughed. “I think they stopped using the guillotine several hundred years ago, but let me know if we need to buy another one.”
“Mmm. I’m sure we could think of a few people who deserve a beheading.”
Evie pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Word about this will get out. Are you going to be okay with how the Lords might react?”
“I don’t give a shit how anyone reacts. But I think most of them will be ecstatic. They’ve been worried about your influence the second they saw that automaton at Caelan’s party. Now that we’re mated, they’ll know our goals are aligned.”
“Which might make it worse if your goals are aligned with the fae,” Evie observed.
“Would it?” I wasn’t too bothered and already figured there would be times when my interests as a Lord and a King clashed. I trusted Evie and knew she wouldn’t put us in a precarious position of loyalty if she could avoid doing so.
“Not if I can help it.” Evie blew out a breath. “But there’s something else I need to tell you.”
I toyed with a dark strand of her hair, desire stirring in me once more.
“Once my training is complete, I agreed to spend a week out of the month in the fae lands.”
“Unsurprising. How else could you rule the fae if you’re never there?” I stroked a hand down her back and felt a flicker of desire along the bond.
“You aren’t mad?”
“I’ll come with you.”
Evie blinked. “Really?”
“You’re my mate. Of course I’ll go with you. Mom will be ecstatic.”
Evie gasped. “Oh! Oh no.” Her voice was filled with dismay. “We mated without your mom here.”
My eyebrows rose. “Can’t say I would have wanted my mom here for this.”
“Rowan!” She snickered. “I meant for the ceremony or whatever the hell Dad did out there. I’m sure she would have loved to see you crowned.”
“Mom doesn’t care much for the trappings of politics.” I kissed her shoulder. “She might be horrified.”
Evie watched me. Her eyes were still glowing. “Do you think she’ll like me?” Her voice sounded so hopeful.
I rolled over, trapping her between my arms. “She’ll love you. But even if she doesn’t, I don’t care. You’re my mate, and you’re stuck with me.”
She touched the side of my face. “I never thought I’d be here, Rowan. With you, doing this.” Her cheeks went pink. “We’re mates.” Evie sucked in a breath. “I can feel you inside my heart. How will I ever get used to that?”
“I hope we never get used to this,” I said as I slid down her body, teasing and tasting.
And soon we weren’t speaking at all.
We spent the rest of the night under the stars. In the morning, Evie dismantled the structure we’d consummated our bond inside. I didn’t tell her the entire Keep was outside waiting for her. If I had, I’m not sure she would have come out.
I tugged her close, Evie’s permanent floral scent washing over me, along with that ever-present hint of desire.
Whoever or whatever created that fae bond deserved a kiss on the lips because it had turned Evie feral last night.
Mates already held an extreme attraction to each other.
Her magic had taken it to a completely different level, one I would never, ever complain about.
I was the luckiest man on the planet.
Evie’s sharp inhale as she tried to pat her hair into some semblance of sanity almost made me laugh. “Shit, Rowan. I must look like—like—” She sagged against me.
“Like you’ve been thoroughly mated,” I said quietly. “Stand proud, Evie. They’re here to greet their new Lady.”
Declan and Hope stood in front of the crowd. Once the last of the barrier came down, they both stepped forward, huge smiles on their faces, then went to their knees, their heads bowed.
“Welcome to the Keep, Lady,” Hope said.
Evie pressed her hand against her chest. “Oh, Hope. Thank you. Thank you both. Please don’t kneel.” She touched them both on their heads. “Stand up and give me a hug, okay? That’s a much better way to welcome me.”
Both of my shifters rose. Declan whooped and scooped Evie up into a hug, spinning her around to her surprise.
Her laughter rang through the clearing. When he put her down, he smacked a loud kiss against her cheek and ruffled her hair.
Hope shoved him away with a laugh and brought her in for another hug.
Simone and Garrett came next. Their faces were a little more somber than everyone else’s. Garrett came forward first and bowed his head deeply.
“You deserve this,” he said in a low voice. “Rowan is a good Lord and is worthy of all that you are.”
She brushed her knuckles against his cheek. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t kill me?”
I started in surprise, but Garrett flashed her a savage grin. “I think you were humoring me back then. We both know who the better beast is here.” Garrett brought her in for a tight hug and stepped away. He nodded and stuck out his hand. “Lord Rowan. Congratulations.”
We shook. “Come by and visit me in the next few days. Declan’s been bitching about all his additional duties, so if you’re interested in taking on some things around the Keep, we’d all appreciate it.”
Garrett’s eyes glittered with interest. “I’ll do that, Lord.”
“Rowan, please. No one calls me Lord unless the other Lords are around.”
The wolf dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Alright then. See you in a few days.”
Simone stepped forward and dragged Evie into a hug. “Gods above, you do love to make a scene, don’t you?”
Evie snorted. “What? You didn’t like my open-air wood and grass love shack?”
Simone grinned. “Well, from that epic bedhead and swollen lip look you have going on, I have to admit it must have been effective.”
Evie blushed. “Ass.”
Simone winked and stepped away before turning to me. “King,” she said with a grin. “And Lord. Moving on up in the world, aren’t you?” But there was no sting in her words.
I winced. “No idea how to be a king, but I’m sure Evie and I will figure things out together.”
Simone stood on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m glad it was you,” she whispered.
I brought her in for a hug. “Me too,” I whispered back.
Once she stepped away, it was endless congratulations from what felt like a never-ending line of shifters. By the time the last one had said their piece, Evie looked completely frazzled.
“Hazards of the job,” I murmured. “This only happens once, thankfully.”
“Your people are wonderful,” she said before chuckling under her breath.
“And there are so many pregnant women here.” She sighed.
“I don’t know how, but I can sense them now.
Life beats inside of many of your females, some of them who don’t even know yet.
” She lifted those beautiful eyes to mine. “You are a wonderful Lord.”
My breath caught. “I am only as good as my people.”
She wrapped her arms around me. “Can we maybe get some sleep?”
I burst out laughing and scooped her into my arms, taking off for the main house in a loping run. “Of course we can.”
Her laughter bloomed across my skin as I ran. Happiness warmed my heart, the bond between us strong and healthy.