Page 177 of Court of the Fae Princes

There’s a round of cheers, and I feel my heart glowing. We’re married. It’s done. All we have is our future in front of us, and it’s looking bright.

Then, for one terrible moment, I feel it. The barrier. A wall of red like a blinding snake weaving around the outskirts of our entire kingdom. It’s like a living beast, moving, but also always staying in place, filled with power that comes from the very earth beneath it, and… me and my men.

I see the whole continent. I see the vampires, the shifters, and the witches… and the iron demons sprinkled throughout everything, dark splotches of cruelty and pain. Only our kingdom is safe from the iron demons, the monsters. And only because of the powerful barrier we’ve erected, keeping them at bay.

I shiver. Sweat rolls down my spine. If that barrier falls… no, no I can’t think about that now. Not when faced with it. Not when feeling the power emitting from it.

Curling my hands into fists, I focus on the energy coming from me and my men. Theirs isn’t nearly as bright as my own, but I can sense that their magic is healing. Rebuilding. Mine will be enough to protect them and strengthen the barrier, for now. Because we’re joined. We’re one.

Hands grasp my arms. I try to blink away the vision, but then I see them more closely, and my focus shifts to the iron demons once more. They’re not at all the way I imagined. The iron demons look like monsters, thrusting against the wall, trying desperately to break free. Big muscled beasts with claws and sharp teeth. Creatures that might have once been human before something terrible happened to them.

They thrust against the barrier. Something draws them to it. Our magic? Our life? I don’t know, but they’re relentless.

Coaxing my magic, I send more of it toward the barrier, watching the barrier grow thicker and brighter everywhere it goes. The light brightens from the barrier, brighter and brighter until there’s an explosion of light. The monstrous creatures race away from the barrier until they’re gone from sight.

A shaky breath slips from my lips as relief moves through me. The barrier is easier to strengthen without the creatures fighting against it. Why? I don’t know, but I’m just glad they’re gone.

It must have been so hard, and so lonely, for my men to be responsible for all of this for so long. But they won’t ever have to do this alone again. I’ll be right here with them.

I’m blinking. Zane’s concerned face is near mine as he holds my face in his. He’s breathing hard. “You’re okay. That’s it. You did it. That was the worst of it; it will never be like that again. Your powers are linked with ours.”

Is that what just happened? Our powers linked against the barrier? My ears ring and my head aches for a moment.

Zane strokes my face. “I've never seen anything like it, the barrier is more powerful than it’s ever been.”

It’s hard to process it all. “Is it really strong?” Is it safe?

Cobar is serious, and Cobar is never serious. “The iron demons stay by the wall, no matter what we do. This time, they left. They fled the barriers of our lands. No doubt that will cause problems for the Vampire Kingdom, but that’s not our worry now.”

“So…?” I’m struggling.

Zane strokes my cheek. “Our marriage solidified the boundary. We’re all safe. It’s over.”

It’s over. Worrying about my secrets. Worrying about my family and how we’ll survive. Worrying about whether the princes and I are actually right for each other. It’s all over.

“Is she ready?” Lady Grave asks.

They look at me, and I nod, even though I don’t know what she’s talking about. My men draw back to their places, their shoulders back, looking like they’re ready for something. Something I don’t have a clue about.

“Now, if you’ll do me the honor of crowning you,” she says, and there’s excitement in the crowd.

I’m surprised, but my men don’t look surprised. They look happy. We all line up and kneel, and fae bring pillows with crowns made of flowers and bones. This is it.

As Lady Grave places a crown on Sulien’s head, she says, “Rise, King Sulien Theros of the Summer Court.” Then she reaches Forrest and places his crown. “Rise, King Forrest Wilder of the Fall Court.” Next is Zane, and he holds himself still as the crown comes to rest on his head. “Rise, King Zane Frost of the Winter Court.” Finally, she gives a small smile to Cobar when she places his crown. “Rise, King Cobar Bloom of the Spring Court.” They’re all standing beside me when she takes a more delicate version of their crowns and stands over me before gently placing the crown on my head. “Rise, Queen Cassia Wither of the Four Courts and Lady of the House of Death.”

When I rise, cheers ring out over the crowd, and we turn to face them, linking hands. I’m queen. They’re kings. This really happened.

Behind us, Lady Grave says more quietly, “You’re now wedded, but to fully complete the ceremony, this marriage must be consummated.”

A nervous flutter dances in my throat as I try to swallow down the knot that suddenly formed there. I guess if I can handle a battle with the House of Death, I can handle this too. Right?

TWENTY-ONE

Cassia

“So, we’re not missing some kind of big party, are we?” I ask nervously as we’re led back down the hallway to my bedroom.

Cobar gives me a look, a little smile teasing his lips. “The party can wait. There are… more pressing matters.”

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