Page 24 of Taken By the Fae King

I’m surprised by how flexible his wings are. At first glance their colorful panes appear delicate and almost brittle, but they are not. They have the consistency of leather and as they tighten around me, I realize just how strong they truly are.

The nocturnal sounds of the forest drift along the breeze, and as I settle into his embrace I realize just how much I trust him. We haven’t known each other long, but it feels like forever in a way. Wrapped up in his arms and wings, I feel safe. Like he means it that he would never let anything hurt me.

And while I’d think this a good thing since he is my husband, there is still so much I do not know about him. With his strong arms looped around me, I breathe in the heady smell of his masculine scent.

I cannot deny that I am attracted to him, but I do not yet know if my heart would be safe in his care. I trusted it to someone before and they cast it aside as if it were nothing. And I vowed that I’d never endure such pain ever again. I’m not sure my heart could take it.

Kyven has asked nothing of me beyond giving him a chance to prove himself, but in truth I know he is asking for everything. He does not just want my hand, he wants my heart. And I’m not sure if that is something I can fully give him yet. I only pray he will be patient with me as he promised.

My gaze drops to my wedding ring. The band is a delicate pattern that looks like vines and in the center is a purple moonstone carved to appear like a rose in full bloom. It is so elegant and intricately made, it is something a human jeweler could never hope to do.

When I dreamed that Kyven gave me a purple rose, I never imagined it would be in the form of a ring, but I know without a doubt this vision was a sign—a guidepost telling me that I am on the right path.

It was the same with my sister when she dreamed Varys gave her a green ribbon. I remember what Inara said about being honest with my new husband. She encouraged me not to hold back. I want our relationship built upon honesty, not secrets and lies. And that is what I am choosing to do. And perhaps, after a while, it will become something more.

I see how happy my sister is with her Dark Elf husband, and I cannot help but want the same in return. With a small sigh I allow myself to relax fully in Kyven’s embrace. I trust him to keep me safe, just as I have complete faith that he will never harm me. Trust is the start of any relationship, just as the tiny bud of a rosebush is the promise of a wondrous bloom. And I pray that someday Kyven and I can have what Inara has with Varys.

“Sleep, Grayce,” he murmurs above me. “I will not let you fall.”

And just those words reassure me that it is safe to close my eyes and relax in his arms. After what feels like forever, I finally begin to drift away into sleep.

CHAPTER15

KYVEN

Grayce shivers slightly in her sleep, and I curl my arms and wings tighter around her, holding her close. She releases a soft sigh of contentment and nestles into my chest. She fits so perfectly in my arms. As if we were made for each other.

Gently, I reach out and run my fingers through her long silken hair as I brush it behind her small curved, human ear.

She is lovely, my new bride. Completely and utterly captivating. But then, I knew this from the moment we met. Yet, I never had a chance to study her like this before. As she sleeps, I gaze at her beautiful heart-shaped face.

I smell the soft mint of her breath with each exhalation, and my eyes drop to the plush bow of her soft, pink lips. The memory of our kiss fills my mind. I long to press my lips to hers and feel her open for me, allowing me to taste her mouth once more.

The humans have many legends about my people. One of them involves a Fae male who’d become obsessed with a human maiden. He found her asleep in the woods and stole a kiss from her as she slept.

I am not sure how much truth there are to these tales, but I do know that despite their recent claims otherwise, my kind have always been fascinated by hers.

I had not anticipated that she’d so readily share a bed with me so soon in our bonding, and I am pleased by how much faith she has in me already.

Even as this thought crosses my mind, guilt twists deep within. She does not know who I am. Who I was. If she were to discover this, she would probably hate me. At the very least, she’d be hurt and all the trust we are building right now would be forgotten.

Several times I have wanted to tell her. And I would have if not for the warning given to me by the spirit of the heart tree—one who speaks for the very gods themselves. The gods can be both giving and cruel if you ignore them. My father learned this the hard way.

They warned him not to go to Grunden. But when he discovered the Orcs were amassing there, readying to invade our lands, he felt he had no choice. How could he send his warriors to fight when he would not?

While he was defending the border, an Orc assassin slipped behind our lines and made his way to our castle. His mission was to end the royal line. My mother died protecting us, and my father learned a terrible lesson that day. The cost for ignoring a warning from the gods is often more than we can bear.

He was a broken king after that and was never the same again.

A flash of blue wings catches my eye, and I turn to find Aren approaching. He cannot see inside the magic barrier I’ve erected, and I am loath to lower it because of how intimate this moment feels with my mate, but I know that I must.

Carefully, I lower the shield. “What is it?” I whisper.

His gaze sweeps down to Grayce, his eyes widening slightly, probably surprised to find her already in my arms and wings, before he returns his attention to me. “One of our scouts detected a band of Orcs nearby. At least a dozen of them, maybe more. They are heading this way.”

“Seven hells,” I curse under my breath. If we leave now, we’d risk being attacked by Harpies or any other manner of nocturnal flying predators that make their home in these infernal woods. Last time we were here, we stumbled upon Harpies. They were easily defeated, but I do not want to risk fighting mid-air with Grayce. If we travel by foot, we chance running into Orcs or other dangers.

I gaze at the sky. Dark clouds roil overhead, covering the light of the stars and the moon. My people are possessed of excellent night vision. At least, in the darkness we’d stand a better chance of going unnoticed by others if we flew.

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