Page 5 of Their Queen

“I’m okay. Tell the others that I’m fine. There’s just something I need to do alone,” I told him, my heart aching at the fear I was putting them through. If there had been any other way to keep them safe, I would have taken it, but this was all I could think of. There was no other option.

“What do you need to do? We’ll help,” he answered after a brief pause, indicating he was telling the others, his voice nearly frantic as he pleaded with me.

“I can’t tell you. Just trust me. I’ll be back before you know it,” I told him, not believing that last part. However, I knew that if they suspected the lie, they wouldn’t stop until they had found me again.

“That’s not good enough, Rhowyn. Come back. We’ll do whatever it is together.” Now, he was truly distraught as if he realized I was beyond reasoning with.

“I’m sorry, Brannoc. I can’t. Tell the others I love them, and I’ll see y’all soon,” I pleaded with him, needing to sever the connection before my resolve crumbled and I felt the need to run back to them.

“Rhowyn. Don’t you d…” Brannoc threatened before I cut him off by slamming the door in my mind and walling off our connection. Hopefully, one day, they would forgive me for this.

The loss of the bonds had me stumbling, and I dropped several feet in the air before catching us. The pain that lanced through my chest dulled to a throbbing ache. I rubbed my chest as Cyerra asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I told her, not wanting to go into it any further.

“Maybe we should rest here for a moment. I can take over if you want?” she offered, unaware that I had just cut off my men.

I shook my head, steeling myself to continue despite the agony of their loss. “No. I’m good,” I told her before increasing the speed at which we travelled, following the tug in my gut that got stronger as we drew closer to Avalonia’s mystery destination.

“So, where are we going?” she asked me.

“That’s a good question,” I muttered, not sure how to explain this need to be somewhere and quickly.

“You mean, you don’t know where we’re going?” She stiffened in my grasp, clearly not happy with my answer.

“All I know is that there’s somewhere I need to be. It’s pulling me there now and getting stronger the closer we get. I got a brief glimpse, and if I had to guess, it’s a church of some sort.” I told her as much as I could, hoping she’d understand and wouldn’t think I was crazy.

“From Avalonia?”

“Yup,” I said, popping the “p”. My eyes traversed the countryside, nothing but grassy hills for as far as I could see, keeping my eyes anywhere but on her face and the look I knew would be there.

“Okay,” she murmured, startling me. My speed stuttered as I whipped my gaze to hers.

“Okay?” I asked.

“Who am I to argue with Avalonia. Seems she wants you somewhere, and it’s in our best interest to follow.” She shrugged as if the answer was simple. Hell, maybe it was.

“That’s it? You don’t think I’m crazy?”

She laughed then. “After the shit I’ve seen happen around you? Of course not. I mean, just yesterday, you were possessed by her and flinging your crazy magic around. And then, there’s the fact that a Raven is bonded to a High Fae, which hasn’t ever happened before,” she explained.

“Okay. Maybe you’re right. Or maybe we’ve both gone insane,” I said with a laugh, settling into the budding friendship that we were building, thankful that she was here with me. I couldn’t imagine coping with the loss of my men without her.

She laughed again. “Well, there’s no one I’d rather go crazy with. At least with you, things are never boring. Not like they were in the Enclave.”

“Ugh. What I wouldn’t give to be in a boring Enclave right now. You had it made,” I complained, my heart aching at the happiness me and my guys could find if only we didn’t have this whole war to fight.

She sobered up. “It wasn’t living.” She met my gaze before continuing. “It was preparing for the worst, always. Hiding and hoping we wouldn’t be discovered, knowing that if we were, our entire species would truly die. That’s no way to live,” she ended softly.

“You’re right. Which is why we’re on our way to do as Avalonia bids, so that we can return this world back to her, so we can all find some peace and maybe a little happiness, too,” I told her.

“Thanks,” she said simply, her eyes indicating that it was more than just the battle that I was taking on. It was for risking everything, for upending my life and doing what no one else dared.

“It’s the right thing to do,” I said simply, not sure what to do with the reverence I saw now.

“Doesn’t mean that people do it. You’re risking a lot, and I’m not sure if anyone has told you yet, but we appreciate it.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not like I had much choice in the matter,” I replied, trying to brush off the emotions that were threatening me now.

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