Page 6 of A Petal in the Crown

It was peaceful, and a sliver of hope burrowed into his heart. With their bond broken, Lea would live a mortal life. Another seventy years, hopefully a little more. He would gladly sit on this hill and wait for her until her time in the realm of the living was up. He could fill his hours dreaming of the way her hair smelled, the sparkle in her blue eyes, and how he could make his death up to her. He could pray to the gods to keep her safe and happy. Pray she was successful in growing the moonflowers and killing Alaric.

He would wait the seventy years without complaint if it meant their kingdom would be saved. If it meant Lea was able tolive. And he would do so without regretting the decisions he had made.

He would wait ten times that, a hundred times. He would wait forever if that was what he had to do to hold her again. Because theywouldbe together again. And hewouldfind a way to earn her forgiveness for the impossible and horrible choice he’d been forced to make.

Squaring his shoulders, Gray stepped through the portal. Shimmering magic brushed against his skin as he climbed up the hill toward those sparkling stars until he reached the top—so close to the sky he felt as if he could touch the clouds—and sat down to wait. With a deep breath of fresh air, his lungs filling fully, he bent his knees, resting his forearms atop them. The rustle of the breeze was soothing, and Gray tilted his head back toward the sky.

“I’ll wait here, Little Flower. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do this. But I love you. Forever,” Gray said, begging the wind silently to carry his words to her ears.

“Then why thefuckdid you sever our bond?” a furious voice hissed from behind him.

Chapter 4

Gray

Gray froze, the hairs on the back of his neck raising, the air ripping from his lungs so violently, he gasped.

It couldn’t be Lea. Not yet. Not now. And yet, Gray knew that voice like he knew his very soul.

“Why thefuckdid you sever our bond?” the voice repeated—his mate’s voice.

It had to be adream. Or a trick. Some sort of test. Because if Lea’s here…

Gray turned his head. Slowly. Disbelieving. The peace and calm he’d felt just moments before as he’d settled in to wait for his mate turning to complete and utter shock.

“Little Flower. What—” he rose to his feet, his body numb with disbelief. “What have you done?” Gray’s voice shook with fear as he took in his mate standing only feet away. She was breathtakingly stunning in a black dress made of flames, with hints of red, yellow, and orange glowing within the rippling fabric like the dying embers of a fire. A thorny crown of pristine moonflowers adorned her head, her long blonde hair blowing softly around her shoulders and back. But it wasn't her beauty that caused him to pause.

His mate lookeddifferent. Her features had sharpened, her jawline now angled and feline, and her cheekbones more prominent and rosy.Her eyes were a blue so vibrant they matched the glittering sea outside Tanad’s palace. Even her posture had changed—her shoulders back and her chin raised—and as she walked toward him, she moved with a grace he had only seen in those of his own kind.

Lea was no longer human. She was Fae.

Her softness was gone, as was any indication of her insecurity and self doubt. He didn’t need the mate bond to feel that she had changed down to her core into something powerful—deadly. Tanad’s words rang in his memory.All I know, my friend, is that your mate has the power to become the Queen of Flame and Shadows, a kind and merciful ruler, but also a warrior. That queen changes the world for good. Restores peace and magic, and defeats the Black King. Or, she has the power to cast the world into darkness and destroy everything that we are fighting for.

With impossible stealth, Lea stalked forward, her footfalls completely silent. “You made me a vow when you sealed the mate bond. Together in life and in death,” she said, her words staccato as if she was trying to rein in her utter fury. “Lifeanddeath.”

“It was the only way,” Gray breathed, his voice almost a whisper. He reached out to her, unable to stop himself. All he wanted was to hold her, to pull her close and kiss her lips and scold her for the rash, foolish choice she’d made to follow him into death. But the furious glint in her eyes stopped him.

Lea looked at his hand like it was holding the knife that had stabbed her in the back, her lips pressed together as if she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to embrace him or find a way to kill him even more permanently.

“I’m sorry, Lea,” he said, breathless, his heart pounding. “You needed my blood for the moonflowers. And I couldn’t let you die. You were supposed to live. To save our army—our people. You needed tolive, Lea.” Gray’s voice rose in pitch. “You shouldn’t be here. What have you done?”

Gray’s emotions warred inside him. She was here. With him, where she belonged, but where she shouldn’t be.

“The moonflowers grew," Lea said, her voice suddenly soft and fragile. “Enough of them to save the rebels and hundreds more if we need them. And then these, to save you.” She held her hand out in front of her where two bright white moonflowers rested on her open palm. “To save us.” Her voice softened, just enough to make Gray almost drop to his knees in relief. She still loved him—even through her fury at his betrayal—and wanted to save him.

“Azalea,” Gray breathed.

“The spell required your life. And you gave it. The petals worked on Janelle and Thomas. Emma is still tethered to the earth. These petals… Maybe they can save us, too.”

Hope sparked in his chest, almost painful in its intensity.

“It cannot be done,” a soft, sweet voice, heavy with sorrow, said from behind them, pulling on that fragile shred of hope until it stretched so tight, it threatened to shatter.

“His soul has been claimed by the veil. By the universe. He will stay. Now, and forever.” This time, it was a man who spoke. Deep and commanding, his words making the ground rumble as they fell from his mouth.

Like dawn spreading across the horizon, a faint light glowed and brightened the night. Silver and gold together, it was both soothing and overwhelming, warm and cool at the same time, and carried with it was a power so immense it made Gray almost fall to his knees.

“I’m sorry, my daughter,” the woman said again.

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