Chapter 24 #2
“I’m not,” he said. “I don’t have it in me to regret anything at this point.
I even feel kind of sad that Mazra is dead.
Personally, I would’ve let her live. I’m not angry at her, even if maybe I should be.
I’ve been back in Teneris for a couple of days now, and it all feels so much better this time around.
After my fucking divorce back in our old world, I was so miserable at home.
I didn’t even have a real home anymore. Then the fae brought me here, and I stopped giving a fuck about everything.
I just didn’t care. But there’s still so much fun to be had, Elaine.
We’re so lucky to be born humans. Look at these poor wretches.
” He gestured at the lavishly dressed courtiers strolling by.
“They would literally pay a fortune, steal, and even kill for a tiny taste of what we can feel freely if only we let ourselves to feel it.” He drew in a full breath of air with an open chest. “It feels so good to be a human, my friend.”
“You look happy,” I said, returning his smile.
It wasn’t a lie. Despite having lost weight and gaining the shadows under his eyes from neglect, Erik looked better than I’d ever seen him. He looked alive.
“It’s because I am happy,” he replied cheerfully. “It just took me two kidnappings to finally appreciate being free.”
Shortly after, we said our goodbyes, and Erik returned to his friends by the fountain.
“Elaine!” A delightful shriek cut the air.
The familiar blonde head appeared over the short hedge by the entrance to the palace.
“Dawn!” I ran to meet my friend, and she threw herself into my arms.
“I can’t believe you’re back,” she murmured, hugging me tightly.
I hugged her back with everything I had. A part of me didn’t believe she’d be here, that Timur had possibly made a mistake. A part of me feared I’d never see her again. Now that she was right here, inside my hug, relief washed over me so strongly, I swayed on my feet.
“I can’t believe you’re in Alveari,” I echoed her words. “You didn’t leave with Melanie?”
“I didn’t.”
“Because of the prince?” I asked.
“Him, yes.” She nodded. “And you. It felt like my heart had broken in pieces, and each of you had a piece of it. Melanie too…” She sighed. “If I could rip myself into pieces to follow each of you, I would. But…well, here we are. You’re here, and Rha, and Ciana too.”
“Ciana? She made it? Where is she?”
“At the temple. With Kurai, our Joy Guardian. We have our own Joy Source now, our temple, and our own Joy Guardian too.” She beamed. “He’s bonded with Ciana. They’re opening the temple for the night but will join us here soon. The queen is coming to Teneris, did you know?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard.” I smiled.
She held my arms, leaning back. “You have new glasses!”
I touched the golden frame, sending a flash of shimmer around the lenses’ edge.
“I do. These are even better than the old ones. Oh, and thanks for the clothes.” I smoothed my hands down the soft shimmering silk of my dress.
She nodded approvingly. “It looks great on you. But how are you doing? Are you okay?” She paused a long, assessing look at my face. “You’ve lost weight. Have you been eating well? You’ll need to move into the palace at once. You’re staying here now. I’m not letting you go anywhere ever again.”
The rustling of Timur’s cloak behind us made me fear that the swishing of his open wings would come next. I glanced over my shoulder to find Timur shifting in his chair impatiently. He clearly didn’t appreciate Dawn’s words about my moving to the palace. Was he worried I’d leave him?
Dawn spotted him too.
“Greetings, General Timur.” She waved at him, coming closer.
“Greetings, Lady Dawn.” Timur bowed his head ceremoniously.
“It’s me who needs to bow to you,” Dawn protested. She bent over at the waist, sinking into a low bow. “Thank you, General,” she said, straightening up again. “Thank you for delivering on your promise and bringing Elaine back to Teneris.”
“I’ll always bring her back,” he said simply. “Elaine belongs with me.”
“Is that so?” Dawn glanced between him and me.
I nodded, taking his hand in mine.
Dawn paused her gaze on our joined hands, then lifted her eyes to mine. “Are you happy, Elaine?”
I drew in a long breath. Happiness enveloped me tangible like a hug or a warm, cozy sweater.
“I am.” I squeezed Timur’s hand tightly. “I truly am, Dawn.”
A wide smile spread on her face. “Then I’m happy for you too.”
A group of courtiers rushed by us to the exit from the garden. A horn sounded from the plaza outside.
Dawn blew out a breath, her soft expression slipping away. “The queen entered through the city gate.”
I leaned toward her and lowered my voice, “Do you not like her much?”
Her gaze flashed with something I’d never seen in my friend’s eyes before.
“I hate her,” she said in a sharp whisper.
“She ordered Rha’s death. She tortured him and almost killed him, Elaine.
Her own son. But…” She drew in some air and scraped her hand down her face.
“But she decided to come to Teneris for some reason. For the first time ever. And I can’t figure out if that’s a step toward a possible reconciliation or some sort of a trap. ”
“Would the prince reconcile with her?” I asked.
“Rha is a statesman, first and foremost. He puts the interests of the kingdom before his ego. He’s the heir to the throne, and he knows that a petty feud with the queen serves no purpose to his people.
But if she so much as says one mean word to him, I swear I will…
” She shook her head, fisting her hands.
I put a soothing hand on her forearm, and she grabbed it quickly.
“Promise you’ll stay close,” she said. “You’ve always been the voice of reason. Maybe you can stop me before I slap the queen and cause a scandal?”
Prince Rha joined us at the gate. Dressed in black, green, and gold, he looked calm, collected, and as regal as ever. He greeted us, then expressed his gratitude to Timur for the successfully executed campaign in Ashgate.
“Your rank is fully restored, General Timur,” he said. “It’d be my honor to welcome you back to the army. My army, this time, since I no longer lead my mother’s warriors.”
Timur blinked, and I stepped closer to him, sensing the conflicting emotions he must be feeling. The army had been his life since he was a child. That was the only family he’d ever known. Being dismissed due to his injuries had scarred him deeply.
“I’m grateful for your offer and your good intentions, Your Highness,” he finally replied. “But I still suffer from the same affliction that was the reason for my dismissal. That has not changed.” He lifted his right hand in demonstration.
“Dismissing you was a big mistake and a loss for the queen,” Prince Rha said adamantly.
“I’ve now witnessed your sharp thinking and strategic planning.
I’ve seen you in action. And I know that having someone with your skills and experience would benefit us greatly.
However, I also understand that you may be reluctant to trust me as the queen’s son. ”
Timur made a gesture of protest, but the prince spoke again, “Think about it, General. Take your time to discuss it with your mate.” He gestured at me. “I’ll wait for your answer for as long as it takes for you to give it.”
Timur thanked the prince for his offer and his patience. But I knew how much just hearing those words from the prince meant to him. He sat straight, his head held high, his left hand clasped around my fingers.
I leaned closer to him. “There is nothing you need to discuss with me about this,” I whispered. “I’ll support whatever you decide.”
He turned to me with a smile so wide, his fangs peeked out, and I already knew what his decision would be. Timur was coming back to life and regaining everything he’d lost.
A moment later, Ciana and her mate Kurai joined us outside of the palace gates.
I hugged her tightly. “I’m so glad you made it to Teneris.”
“I’m even more glad you avoided Ashgate completely,” I added in my head but didn’t say it out loud, not wanting to bring up the shadows of that place.
She beamed. “Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Coming to Teneris has been the right decision for us.”
I had so many questions both for Ciana and Dawn. But there would still be time for all of us to sit down together and catch up.
Right now, however, the horns and drums announced the queen’s arrival.
Four guards in royal uniforms carried in a big, richly decorated litter.
It required the same number of guards that were in charge of Timur’s chair today.
Only the royal litter was significantly bigger.
It was covered with a round tent of black fabric embroidered with golden hexagons and decorated with strings of gold chains and amber beads.
I hoped, for her guards’ sake, that the queen had changed her mode of transportation at the city gates and didn’t force the guards to carry her in that thing all the way from Kalmena.
The guards set the litter down, then opened the tapestry curtains on its side.
Queen Abeille was a short woman for a fae. Her hand trembled slightly as she leaned onto a guard’s arm, getting out of the litter. She was dressed in a chocolate brown skirt with a matching long veil over her head, both stitched with embroidery of golden thread and beads along the edges.
I noticed that the queen’s tendrils were extended.
As she stepped onto the mosaic floor of the palace plaza, her shadowy tendrils stretched from under her veil, reaching back into the litter.
She pulled them out of the litter, however, promptly disconnecting them from whomever they had been connected to inside and drawing them back under her clothes.
Prince Rha stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, welcome to Teneris,” he greeted her with a bow, respectful but distant.