Chapter Eight
Thade
It seems that three months disappear in the blink of an eye, and the eve of the Winter Solstice is upon us.
My beautiful mate is practically glowing with contentment as she emerges from our room, dressed in a gown that matches her eyes.
The gold trim shimmers in the light, gauzy and luminous.
Her long brown hair is styled half up and half down, delicate jeweled pins of topaz, citrine, and amber decorating her crown.
“You look like a queen, my love,” I praise, taking her hands in mine.
Wren blushes, her cheeks becoming rosy, which only adds to her charm. Her touch has lost most of its warmth now and after tonight, she’ll become a fully-fledged Common fae. “Thank you,” she answers, catching my lips with hers. “You look like the most dashing Royal Bard in all of Faery.”
I grin and step back, performing a little mock bow to her delight.
“Come, pretty bird. It’s time to join the celebrations.
” Leading my mate through the castle, we enter the grand Court.
The throne room looks like a winter paradise.
Great trees of ice rise up from the floor, their immense, twisting branches holding up the domed glass roof.
Moonlight streams in, catching the ice blossoms that adorn the trees’ branches, sending shards of rainbow light to the dance floor below.
Diamond chandeliers adorn the space, too, suspended by magic, their gems glittering like stars as the revelers of the Court frolic and waltz beneath them.
A great banquet table runs down one side of the hall, heavily laden with fresh fruit, steaming meats, candied delicacies, and enough wine to get all of Faery drunk for a week.
With my lyre on my back, I lead my mate to the Crown’s dual thrones of ice. “Your Grace, Your Grace,” I say, bowing low as I address both the king and queen.
“Ah, Thade. Good evening,” says Kyren from his throne.
“Good evening,” I answer with a bob of my head.
The queen’s attention is entirely focused on my companion, and she rises from her throne, a vision of black and reflective rainbows as she sweeps down the stairs. “And who might this vision in gold, be, dearest Thade?” she asks, stopping before Wren.
“Your Majesty, this is Wren, my mate.”
“Wren?” she says. “Another pretty bird for The Winter Court! Well chosen, Bard.” She addresses my beautiful wife. “Not quite entirely fae just yet,” she observes. “But after tonight’s revelry, you will be.”
Wren drops into a curtsy and rises to address the queen. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty,” she says. “My sweet bard tells me that you were once mortal, yourself?”
Raven’s laugh is musical, and she takes my mate’s hands in hers. “I was indeed! Would you like to hear the story of how I met this scoundrel?” she asks, gesturing toward her husband, the eternally youthful king.
“I would be delighted and honored,” says Wren. “But if I may, there is something we must first ask you.”
Raven smiles, her curious gaze flicking to me. “Of course. What is it?”
I reach for my mate’s hand and stand tall. “Your Majesty, we humbly ask that you would give us your blessing. I desire for the Court to recognize Wren as my wife.”
The queen beams, her expression ecstatic. “Of course you have my blessing,” she says. “And I see you’ve already consummated your marriage.”
“You can see?” Wren asks, her cheeks coloring once more.
The queen taps her ear. “We High fae have superior hearing, pretty bird. I can hear the heart beating away in your belly.”
Wren’s eyes grow wide and then she places her hands on her belly, her face filled with affection. “I had noted that my courses had stopped,” she admits, “but I wasn’t sure if it was my transition to fae or...”
“Your little one is healthy and strong,” says the queen in confirmation. “A welcome gift to our wonderful Court.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” says Wren.
The queen makes a dismissive sound, her many jewels jingling as she laughs. “Please,” she says. “Thade is our Royal Bard and a dear friend, call me Raven.”
“Raven,” says Wren with a smile.
“Now,” says the queen, taking my wife’s hands in hers once more, “how about you tell me how you came to meet our dashing bard, and then I’ll share my story with you too.”
Wren looks to me for my consent, and I nod without hesitation.
“You are free to do as you desire, my love. Go, enjoy yourself.” And just like that, the queen wafts away with my mate, arm in arm, the two of them like the oldest of friends, they wander the Court, a flurry of giggles and salacious tales.
Kyren slips from his throne and pats me on the shoulder. “You realize you have lost her for most of the night now, my friend? I have no doubt Raven’s going to introduce her to Lark and Dove. The four of them will be thick as thieves before the Solstice is through.”
I grin at my friend and king. “I hope so,” I answer. “I want her to be happy here.”
Kyren grabs two crystal chalices from a passing server and hands one to me. “She will be, my friend,” he promises, then raises his cup. “To the women who claimed our hearts,” he toasts. “May we survive them!”
I raise my glass and drink, my gaze roving over the throng of dancing revelers, their many-colored gowns moving elegantly around the floor like a living winter rainbow.
The hours while away in good cheer and conversation, with the fae enjoying the music, wine, food, and festivities. Just before midnight, the queen reappears, flanked by the strikingly beautiful fae women Kyren mentioned earlier.
She summons refilled chalices for all, then silences the hall, her husband joining her.
“My dearest, most debaucherous fae,” she calls out, her voice rising above all.
“It is with great joy that I would like to announce a very happy occasion. Our most talented Royal Bard, Thade, has found himself a pretty bird and I have blessed their union.” She raises her glass with an ear-to-ear grin. “To Thade and Wren!”
The entire Court cheers, raising their glasses to echo the queen’s toast. Beside me, Wren slips into my side, and I wrap my arm around her, before drawing her up to her toes in a deep and passionate kiss.
The Court roars in celebration and applause fills the grand throne room, the glittering chandeliers shivering above.
“Now,” the king says when the sound dies down, “let the true revelry begin!” With that, he turns to his queen and kisses her, hands roaming and groping that which is his.
The rest of the Court erupts into carnal chaos.
Shirts and dresses fly, shreds of fabric fill the air, falling to the icy dance floor like rainbow leaves in the breeze.
Naked bodies writhe, lips lock, and every available surface becomes just another place to fornicate and fuck.
Wren gasps at the spectacle before her, then looks to her new friends who have joined the chaos with their own lovers, lost in their ecstasy. “I...” she begins, staying close.
I can feel her trembling under my arm and smile gently. “If you’re not ready for this,” I say, “we can finish the night somewhere a little more private.”
Relief washes over my pretty bird’s face and she embraces me gratefully. “Yes, please,” she whispers against me. “This is all ... a bit much.”
Sweeping my beautiful mate up in my arms as her mortality fades forever, I carry her from the grand throne room and its debauchery. “Perhaps next Solstice,” I say, unbothered.
“Perhaps,” she answers, her head resting against my shoulder. “Where are we going?” she asks, when it becomes apparent that I’m not taking her back to our rooms.
“To a secret, rooftop garden,” I say. “There’s a decanter of Cold Fire, and a blanket with our names on it.”
Wren’s eyes glitter with tears. “You knew it’d be too much for me,” she says. “And you planned all this?”
I hold her tight, kissing her hair as I climb the last flight of stairs.
“I love you, Wren. It’s my duty to make you happy for the rest of your immortal life, remember?
Besides, tonight is your first Winter Solstice, and I wanted to share it with you and only you.
” I lower my mate to her feet and present to her my little festive picnic setup, the stars sparkling overhead, the glorious moon shining bright—a myriad of rare and beautiful flowers overflowing their pots to cover the balustrade and decorative arches.
“Oh, Thade,” she breathes, crushing herself into me, her hands roaming my chest, her heart in her throat. “It’s breathtaking.”
Then our lips collide in a kiss of promise and eternity as a shooting star falls through the night—our union blessed by Fate itself.
The End
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