Page 167 of Court of the Fae Princes

Cobar smiles tiredly. “Your deal brought her to all of us. That’s all that matters.”

“None of this would have happened without that deal,” Zane says, inclining his head.

Putting my hands on his shoulders, his gaze meets mine. “We’re not mad, Sulien, but for the love of the gods, work on your communication skills. One good conversation could have saved us a hell of a lot of this mess.”

“Communication, huh?” he says, a smile teasing the corner of his mouth, but disbelief still lingers in his eyes.

“We Fall Fae are experts at it, if you’d like some lessons,” I offer, grinning.

He snorts. “The day I take communications lessons from a Fall Fae–”

Cobar laughs. “Though I think we all could use a little help in that regard… and a little help to make sure we don’t let our pasts ruin our futures.”

Shaking my head, I glance back at Cassia. She’s smiling, but her gaze is far away. Sulien’s disbelief is mirrored in her face. “This is impossible, right?”

“That you’re our mate?” Zane asks, lifting a brow. “Hardly. We could have told you two all along that we were mates. We knew it deep in our souls.”

“It was just that easy?” Cassia asks.

“That easy,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders.

Still, she seems uncertain. “You’re sure, Sulien? You’re really sure you never used it?”

His gaze falls on her. “I’m sure. I thought I chose you to be my bride because you’d keep things simple, but I think some part of me always felt our connection. Always… just knew. Did you?”

Even in this dull light, I can see the blush that heats her cheeks. “I knew that you four were the most irritating people on the planet… and yet, I still wanted to be around you.”

“That’s a win,” Cobar mutters.

We all laugh.

After a pause, Cassia gives us a funny look. “Do you guys think we can finish figuring this all out in a place that smells less like… death?”

With no hesitation, Zane says, “Certainly,” speaking all our thoughts aloud.

I place my hands under Sulien’s arms and allow him to lean on me as he walks. We find the exit and slowly follow the path to daylight. The whole way, Cassia is full of laughter and smiles, making small fires with her power to light our way. We’re a quiet group, but a happy one. It’s like a weight has been lifted from all of us, and we’ll have nothing but happiness ahead of us.

As long as our magic can be restored before the boundary falls. The thought makes me stiffen. I glance at the others. Surely enough food and rest will be enough?

But as I reach for the boundary, I feel it, hanging on by a thread, and… I’m just not sure.

Cassia opens a door and light comes flooding in. As we blink into the light, forms take shape. There, waiting just outside our exit, is Lady Grave with a group of fae.

Shit. What now?

SIXTEEN

Cassia

My sigh of relief lays perched in my chest as I opened the door to step outside, but Lady Grave, a group of fae, and Lady Nova crowd the door, seemingly blocking our way. My heart leaps into my throat. What will these fae do when they learn I’ve killed their fearless leader? And will we be able to handle this many of them when they try it?

“Cassia?” Prince Cobar says my name in confusion behind me.

“We have company,” I whisper, and I sense they know exactly what I mean, even though my body blocks some of their view of the fae.

“Company we can handle?” Prince Zane asks.

“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. At least, I think so. “Lady Nova?”

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