Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
S age felt like she had been run over by a stampede of elk, but she wasn’t ready to sleep. The events of the day kept replaying on a loop in her head. Injured fae were still being tended by healers. All within the castle were still on edge. Correspondence was coming and going with the survivors of Windsong. And she had six kings and their armies stationed just outside the village. Everyone waiting.
On her…
To explain her plans for how Ventus would move forward from here. To issue decrees. Elect officials. Deliver sentencing. Secure loyalties, and the borders. Establish her official court. Unite the people. Make the world a better place.
Now!
She was all too aware time was of the essence. Especially with Windsong currently without an official government. Though, she had discovered Glenton was alive. And he had been instrumental in getting the aid needed for the harbor attack.
The High-fae had used his transference-magic to shield himself during the explosion at Windsong, then hidden out in the chaotic aftermath. When Gideon hastily departed, Glenton immediately organized those who’d survived the blast–directing frightened servants and nobles, putting his extensive military training to good use with the fractured Windsong troops. He currently commanded the ship Archer’s young nephew was on and sailing down the coast.
Sage only allowed herself one brief moment to feel the relief. Difficult conversations lay ahead. Many lives would never be the same. She needed to tread carefully, but assuredly, and set forth a plan of action. And she needed to do it quickly.
Bastian had walked by her side, an unfaltering presence, when she went to the harbor and met with the captains. She greeted wide-eyed villagers and walked through the stables, armory, and kitchen, assuring everyone all would be well. She found Spade’s second in command and offered her condolences.
Then she laid down the new law of the land.
No more vengeance, no backroom alliances. No more disobedience. Zeke bent his knee right then and there, eager to comply. All his warriors followed him down, one after the other, and pledged their swords to her. Bound themselves to Arrowren.
Her mate remained at her side when she spoke with Archer and thanked him for coming to her rescue. Though she knew it was not to her side the silver-haired fae had been running when the commander burst into that ballroom.
She didn’t ask him about the former Queen of Gerra. She wanted to speak with Katarra first. She needed a better sense of the female before she made any definitive ruling about how long, or if, the vampire could stay in Ventus.
She ran a hand up her tight neck muscles and looked out past the wisteria and roses of the garden terrace to the moon-kissed sea.
“I can massage that for you.”
Sage glanced over her shoulder and found Bastian leaning against the open doors, arms crossed, a wolfish grin on his handsome face.
Hmmm, she mused aloud .
He pushed off the door, and pointed to a chair beside the bubbling center fountain. “Have a seat and tell me what hurts the most?”
She did as directed, smiling up at him as he approached. “All of it.”
He quirked his mouth to one side, looking her over. He rubbed his hands together. Then he moved behind her and gently swept her hair to one side. Goosebumps lifted on her exposed skin. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation.
When those strong hands finally did touch her, and his thumbs started a slow circular administration, she groaned. Carefully, methodically, he eased away the tension. Sage felt her head sag forward. He moved to her neck, the kneading more isolated, the attention precise. She let her head roll back, surrendering the weight into his hands.
His hands that had fought and slain. The hands of a warrior.
Those same hands now held her neck as if he were holding a small animal. Something cherished. As if the entire realm were balanced in his palm.
As she melted into his skillful touch, Sage could start to see it. What her rule would be. Those who would make up her court and which would be her front line. What this kingdom could be. With Bastian by her side.
A sudden and sharp realization sliced through those thoughts. He was the Chosen One!
Her mate, the male she had given her heart to, was responsible for all the realms. Not just this one. Could he even reside in this one? Did he want to?
She was a fucking fool. So preoccupied with the insanity here she hadn’t considered anything beyond this moment in time. Hadn’t stopped to think what tomorrow might look like for him and his new role. Here she was stressing over one realm when he had four.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
She opened her eyes to find him peering down at her, concerned .
“Tomorrow,” she sighed. “And every day after.”
His brows furrowed. “Thoughts of the future is the cause for that frown?”
She straightened in her chair. “I was just allowing myself–daring myself–to dream about what I wanted for Ventus. How I would shape it. And…”
He grabbed a chair and dragged it over, positioning it directly across from hers. He took a seat, giving her his undivided attention. “And?”
“For as long as I can remember, my life has had only one mission. One goal, one purpose, driven solely by the needs of Ventus,” she explained. “Then you and Eirik showed up, and all the issues of this realm were dumped in your laps. They became your problems, too. And our turmoils were unwittingly intertwined.”
She took a breath. Exhaled. “But the game I was playing, the deception I had so carefully crafted, flipped upside down on me. And then…” The words caught in her throat. “Then there was you…”
She shook her head. “I think I forgot that you weren’t of this realm.” The water trickling from the statue in the center of the fountain suddenly became of utmost importance as she fixed her gaze to it. “That you would one day need to leave.”
Bastian scooted his chair closer, bracketing her legs with his thighs. Gently, he laid his hands on her wrists; gently, he closed his fingers around them, holding them in her lap. Coaxed her attention to him.
Sage lifted her gaze and met his. Unflinching strength and conviction flared in those sapphire eyes. Her vision blurred.
He gathered her into his arms and pulled her into his lap. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, voice barely a whisper. “Together.”
Sage buried her face against his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears–pouring out a lifetime’s worth. Of fears and conflict and longing. Finally, she allowed those emotions to be released into the world because…
She had found someone she didn’t have to protect .
She had found someone capable of protecting her . Someone who would be a safe place to fall when the world became too much. She’d found her equal.
Bastian stroked her hair, his fingers gliding through the strands. Sage closed her eyes. She had found her soulmate.