Chapter 60
Chapter sixty
Esmeray
Sparrow flat out refused to let me wane. I was still a bit breathless from the kiss Keerian and I shared, and still aching in my bones and soul from the fight, so I relented with only a tiny bit of bickering.
As we prepared to head back to Florra, Laurent asked if I wanted to see Adara before we left. The question clanged through me, but I shook my head and he dropped the subject.
Now wasn’t the time. Mentally, physically, and emotionally, I needed to sort out my thoughts. After I spoke with Hale and could confirm I wasn’t corrupted by using the spell book’s magic, then…
Then I would begin interrogating my twin on the details of her year-long reign.
“Let her sulk in a dirty, freezing cell for a few days. It’ll make her more than ready to answer my questions.
” As I talked, I could feel it–the book’s unnatural power thrumming tantalizingly in my pocket of space.
It wanted to be let out. I could feel the pressure of that otherworldly presence bearing down behind my magic, and I hoped Hale could provide some insight on why the damned thing seemed so… sentient.
“We can’t stay in Florra long,” Keerian murmured to me as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
“You have two Kingdoms to rule now. Or at least one, and to put a new Regent in the other.” He surveyed me again, head to toe–his eyes landing on the little cuts still healing across my cheek. “Are you feeling alright?”
No. I thought to myself, though I gave him a big smile, telling myself I’d open up to him once we were alone. “I’m fine, my love,” I said aloud.
No, I think I’m the sole being favored by the Goddess of Death, and I don’t know where to begin unpacking that.
“I just need a good night’s sleep, and we can figure out the politics tomorrow.”
I didn’t want to take the throne of even one Kingdom, and now I have an entire continent to rule. Gods.
Keerian nodded, but the look he gave me let me know he was not convinced on the state of my well-being. I could never lie to him. He always saw right through me, anyway.
“I’ll tell you later,” I promised my mate through our personal connection on our rings.
“But, do you think Laurent and Merrick are acting weird or is it just me?” I shot a glance over to them, half to change the topic of conversation, and half because the two males were acting awkward as fuck around each other.
“Definitely weird,” he agreed. “Sparrow too. But did you know Merrick died and Sparrow used her magic to bring him back to life? Maybe that’s why it’s weird between them.”
“Wait, Merrick, you died?” I whirled around, grabbing the grey winged gargoyle by the shoulder. “Why do you look so…alive? And why did no one tell me?”
Merrick groaned, swatting me away. “Oh, here we go. Thanks, Keerian, buddy.” Rolling his eyes at me, Merrick amended, “I didn’t like…die all the way–Sparrow bought me back.”
“How?” I asked Sparrow. Out of all the fae I knew, I never really understood Sparrow’s acat to begin with–I don’t think she even understood it that well.
Her battle magic was green light, which was rare in fae, but not unheard of.
Even Sparrow always said she wasn’t sure what god or goddess favored her, but she was content with her gifts and mused it must have been a long forgotten “plant god” that took a liking to her soul.
“Plant god” my ass if she bought Merrick back from Minmere.
Sparrow shrugged. Out of all of us, she seemed the most unfazed by the actual death Merrick had come back from.
“I don’t really know. I tried healing him like I heal plants, and I think in my panic, my magic connected me with his life force.
I saw him falling into the darkness of death and I–I pulled him out. ”
With a sideways look at Merrick, causing Laurent next to her to stiffen, Sparrow added, “So, he must not have been all the way dead to begin with.” Ducking her head, she smoothed her hands down the bodice of her top, before pivoting to Lenna, fussing over the Oracle and wanting to know how Lenna fared in the dragon dens.
Sparrow wasn’t a healer–her family came from a long line of healers, always holding it against her that she didn’t inherit the same gifts.
The most healing Sparrow had ever done was for a plant that wasn’t happy in its new pot and the leaves withered.
Sparrow had poured magic into it, curing whatever ailment the plant had, until each leaf was back to its original, shiny green self.
I added that to the long list of shit I needed to figure out when I had the energy to.
I sighed, giving myself the mental permission to deal with this all tomorrow, turning towards the dais and the new, opal-carved monstrosity of a throne sitting there.
With a nonchalant wave of my hand, the throne exploded, turning to ash and blowing away on a phantom wind I illusioned to breeze through the room.
“Why’d you do that?” Keerian asked, a grin threatening to form on his handsome, rugged face.
Laurent chuckled, answering for me. “Lord Magnamus never sat on a throne large enough for beings with wings. This is the second throne of his that she’s destroyed.”
My reward was a dazzling smile from my mate, who let out a rough chuckle, rubbing his beard as he stared at me. “You are crazy, but I love you. Horns and all.”
I laughed, giving my mate a quick kiss on his cheek. “Well, I offered Regency to someone with wings, I was just accommodating them.”
“Who did you place as Regent?” Keerian questioned curiously, crossing his arms. “I thought you were holding off on politics until tomorrow.”
“It’s a temporary Regency,” I explained with a coy smile as the floor began to ripple again. “I had to wait until the new Regent of the Obsidian Palace could go speak with his subjects and explain the situation.”
Resso’s large black snout appeared out of the floor, and he glided through the throne room to perch at the top of the now-empty dais.
Those large silver eyes blinked and his rumbling voice filled my mind.
I knew he projected to Keerian and Merrick as well.
“I was asked to keep an eye on things for our Queen Absolute.” He huffed as steam swirled out of his mouth.
“Temporarily. I need to go take a long nap around my treasures, Queen Esmeray.”
I gave the mighty dragon a bow. “I will be back tomorrow, my scaly lord,” I said dramatically and Resso grumbled, the throne room echoing the noise.
The group stared at me, Lenna keeping one eye on the dragon sitting on its mighty haunches above her. “What?” I asked, amusement filling my voice. “Resso can keep this Palace in line for a day. Who’s going to try and argue with a dragon?”
Keerian tipped his head back, cackling, and even Merrick shook his head, a bemused expression on his face.
Laurent, filling in the pieces as they were offered since he couldn’t hear Resso’s voice, gave me a tight-lipped smile.
“Well, I know for a fact all the fae will behave.” His smile widened, flashing sharp canines.
“After a day with a dragon ruler, the Kingdoms will be so ready to crown you Queen Absolute.”
I shot them a grin as Sparrow stepped forward with Lenna, reaching her hand out to Laurent.
Laurent clasped her hand, and they locked eyes, Sparrow giving him a shy smile before turning and reaching out for Merrick’s hand.
Merrick gave her a look of something extremely heated.
Keerian, oblivious to what I saw, grasped Merrick’s other hand before pulling me tight into his body.
I wrapped my free arm around Lenna as she linked hands with Laurent.
With a flash of green light, the six of us waned back to Florra.