Chapter 8
“You’re okay. Everything’s okay, Wren.” A soothing female voice whispers, brushing my cheek with her hand. I breathe in the scent of a nearby fire, the salt from the sea breeze blowing through the air, and the familiar comfort of my room. I’m home.
“Mom?” I whisper, looking up at her leaning over me.
My body hurts everywhere, but nothing is that bad.
It’s real. I’m in my childhood bed — my room.
There is a dragon painting on the wall opposite and piles of books on the cabinets.
My mom’s face slowly comes into view, starting with her bright red hair and ending with her kind smile I’ve missed.
Tears are running down her face, and she looks so tired — like she hasn’t slept right in weeks.
“You’re safe.” She sobs, pulling me to her and holding me tight.
I cry in her arms, holding her back just as tightly.
Eventually she breaks away, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.
“I’ve heard unbelievable stories from the survivors of what happened.
The same survivors who call you their queen and claim you are also their saviour.
But I would like to hear it from my daughter. ”
“Wait. No. No. Hunter?” I shake my head. “Where’s Hunter?”
“Hunter?” She frowns at me as I push my sheets back and try to stand, only for everything to spin.
She grabs my shoulders gently and helps me stand up.
“Stand still for a moment, let your body get used to it. The healer said you used up too much magic, Wren. Tell me about this Hunter male. We had so many taken to the healers or saved by our people. Many had nearly drowned, but of course we wouldn’t let that happen. ”
“He’s half vampyre, half fae. He’s tall, has dark hair and wears a cloak.
He has shadow powers like Dad, but they’re different.
They’re purple. He’s practically a king to his people and he’s amazing, Mom.
He’s kind and generous, and funny. Where is he?
I was with him on the beach, but his heart.
.. I couldn’t hear it beating before I passed out. ” I begin to panic.
My mother runs a soothing hand down my back.
“Yes. A portal, or what we’ve been told they’re called, opened right outside the beach and dropped over a thousand people into the sea.
Only a few died, who were said to have been injured when a castle fell in your world.
Dragons came through too, purple dragons like that egg of yours, but they’re long gone.
I’m sure this Hunter friend of yours is with the healers downstairs.
We can go search together once you have a drink and some food.
You can barely stand, let alone search through a thousand sleeping fae. ”
“I can—” the castle shakes, and we both turn as the door opens.
My father walks in, shutting the door behind him. He closes the space between us and pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. “Wren... thank the fucking deities. Are you well?”
“Well enough, but—”
“No buts. You should be in bed resting.” The castle shakes again, this time the door to my room rattling with it.
“What is that?” My mother asks as my father kisses the top of my head and tries to lead me back to bed. “Nothing but a male making trouble. I’m dealing with it.”
I slip out from under his arm and grin. “Tell me his name!”
My father frowns, but my mother smiles. “Hunter. He claims he needs to see you, but—”
I don’t hear anything else as I walk to the door and pull it open.
Hunter is standing right there — alive. All the air leaves my lungs as our eyes lock, purple and black shadows, his and my father’s, fighting against each other to hold him back, but it’s half-hearted.
My father isn’t hurting him, and Hunter seems content to just stare at me as I stare back at him. “Let him go, Dad.”
The shadows disappear at the same time Hunter’s do, and his smile must be as bright as mine as he closes the space between us and pulls me into his arms. Relief has me sobbing in his arms, his head buried in my neck and my hair covering his face as his hot tears fall down my cheek.
We stand like that for a long time, just holding each other and saying nothing.
We survived the games, found our mates, and freed his people.
This is how we begin again. I lift my head, searching his purple eyes for a moment. “You died.”
“Vampyre, remember? Our hearts can stop and start under trauma.” He kisses my cheek. “I told you we are for eternity. A dragon isn’t going to take you from me... now you. How did you open a portal?”
I explain everything that happened after he killed the dragon, as well as learning I can use his power, but it exhausts me. When I’m done, the corridor is silent and Hunter simply hugs me one more time. “You did it.”
“We did it.” I correct him. “You risked your life for me.”
“We both did that multiple times, didn’t we?” he murmurs. “I believe we can develop healthier habits going forward.”
I laugh, breathing in his scent. I almost forgot my parents are here until my father clears his throat. “I would like an introduction to your...”
“This is King Hunter, and he is my mate.” I turn and answer.
My mother gasps in joy and my father smiles.
“We found each other despite a few difficulties. Hunter is a good man, and I want you to get to know him too.” I turn to look up at Hunter.
“This is King Ziven and Queen Story — my mother and father.”
“Nice to meet you.” Hunter respectfully nods.
“It would have been nicer if we’d met before you kidnapped our daughter.” My father points out, but there is no heat behind his words. No threat.
“They’re mates. What’s a bit of kidnapping between mates?
” My mother joyfully laughs, coming over and gently pushing me aside to hug Hunter.
“Welcome to the family. We are delighted to meet you, and I might not know you well yet, but I know you are good for my daughter because I haven’t seen as much light in her eyes as I did when she just woke up. I think she was waiting for you.”
Hunter looks at me, his eyes softening. “I was waiting for her too. For many years, and I will spend all the time I have left at her side until she bores of me.”
“Never.” I mutter, and he laughs, tugging my hand so I lean against his side.
My dad holds out his hand to Hunter, and they shake. “If you hurt my daughter... I’ll rip you to pieces.”
“Noted, but you don’t have to worry about that. There’s far more chance of her hurting me than me ever hurting her. I’ve waited hundreds of years for my mate.” Hunter answers. Little does he know, I plan to give Hunter a life, a family, and happiness until we are old and grey.
“Good. Now perhaps we should talk about the thousand or so refugees we have and what we’re going to do with them all.” My mother suggests. “You are all welcome here, but they are very loyal to their king and queen. They wait for you.”
“I have an idea for our people,” I look up at Hunter, seeing the flash of pride in his eyes when I speak about our people.
This is all he has ever wanted — for them to be free.
To be given a chance to be the king they need and want.
.. who he wants to be. They all look to me with bright eyes because I never wanted to be a queen, not until I was his queen.
Now I have a perfect idea of where we should call home.