Page 9 of Treasured By the Fae Royal

“Good. Let’s go.” I gesture for him to follow me, but he instead takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. I’m in such a hurry to reach Mama that I don’t try to push him away.

“Don’t be afraid, sweetling. If your mother still has a pulse, even a faint one, I can save her.”

CHAPTER4

LUCAS

I tightenmy hold on Yvette’s hand. Gods, I hope her mother is still alive. If the little human endured the long trek up the mountain and the confrontation with flesh traders only for her mother to perish during her absence, I will be heartbroken for her.

Clearly, Yvette cares for her mother deeply. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked her life trying to travel to Sorsston for a healer. The roads in these parts certainly aren’t safe. Particularly during times of war when people become desperate.

Guilt ravages me that I didn’t stay close to Yvette after our first encounter, and I resolve that going forward I’ll make sure she’s better protected. I have a twenty-eight thousand strong army at my command. I could spare some soldiers to guard her aunt’s cottage. I could also order the soldiers to accompany Yvette anywhere she might go.

A growl builds within me, but I tamp it down. Fuck. I want to protect the little human, but the idea of anyone doing it but me leaves me on the verge of roaring my rage.

Gods, what is happening? Why am I becoming so attached to the dark-haired female so quickly? I’ve known her for less than a day, yet I feel compelled to keep her safe.

If not for the curse, I would wonder if she’s my fated mate.

As she knocks briefly on the door before leading me inside, I think about my father’s order that I marry a human female. But I also remind myself that I promised Yvette I would help her mother without expecting anything in return. I told her she didn’t have to make a deal with me.

Earlier in the day, right before I’d heard her scream, I’d considered taking her as my bride by force. After spending more time around her, however, I cannot fathom hurting her like that. My spirits sink a little because once I heal her mother, she’ll probably expect me to depart the cottage and never bother her again.

“Aunt Heather!” Yvette calls. “I’m back, and I’ve brought a healer!”

“Yvette? You’re back already?” comes a soft, muffled voice from the end of a hallway.

A door opens and a petite middle aged human female emerges while rubbing her eyes and covering a yawn. Aunt Heather, I presume.

“Oh, I must’ve fallen asleep while sitting with your mama,” the woman says. “I didn’t expect you back so soon, child. Who is that with you? It’s awfully dim in the hallway and I’m not wearing my spectacles.” She pauses, places her hands on her hips, and squints in our direction.

“Aunt Heather, I need you to promise to stay calm.” Yvette clears her throat. “I’ve brought a very kind and very skilled highborn fae with me. His name is Lucas, and he saved me from a gang of flesh traders on the road. He also healed my injuries, and after I told him about Mama, he offered to help. He’s healed people, fae and human, suffering from mangga bites before.”

A very kind and very skilled highborn fae. Even though I suspect she’s just trying to keep her aunt calm, Yvette’s flattering description of me makes the pointed tips of my ears burn.

Aunt Heather’s eyes go wide, and I half expect her to start shrieking. I remain ready to summon a glamour, but in the end, it’s not needed. The woman frowns but steps aside and gestures for us to enter the bedroom she just vacated. “Leave it to you, Yvette, to find the onlykindhighborn fae in existence,” she says in a grumbling tone. “But considering what happened to your uncle, I don’t believe you would bring this fae here without good cause. Come in, come in.”

“Thanks for being understanding, Aunt Heather.” Yvette glances over her shoulder and gives me a hopeful smile, as though she thinks I need some encouragement to walk past her aunt who clearly dislikes my people. I don’t have to ask what happened to the uncle in question. It’s obvious he met his death at fae hands.

“I promise I will heal Yvette’s mother,” I tell the woman, hoping to put her more at ease. Yes, I could easily glamour her, but I find myself wanting to win her over. Because if I can win this fae-despising family member of Yvette’s over, perhaps I can win Yvette herself over.

The woman makes a noncommittal noise in her throat and enters the room behind us. Yvette guides me toward the bed that’s occupied by a sickly female clearly suffering the effects of a mangga bite. Her telltale paleness and the sour scent of the bite wound are evidence enough.

“Show me where she was bitten.”

Yvette drops my hand and pulls the covers back to reveal her mother’s right leg. It’s swollen and purple, and I easily spot the black fang marks on her lower calf. Immediately, I get to work, holding my hands over the bite as healing magic gathers in my palms. Spiraling waves of gold emit from my hands. Gasps sound in the room as Yvette and her aunt stand close and watch as the fang marks fade and the swelling goes down.

“Holy gods, he’s doing it. He’s helping.”

“Of course I’m helping, Aunt Heather.” I spare a moment to meet the woman’s eyes. “I promised Yvette I would save her mother, and I am a male of my word.”

“I’m not your aunt.” She gives me a scolding look. “Just call me Heather.”

“Very well,Heather.” I smile, though too late I realize my sharp, pointed teeth have shocked her.

She gulps hard and takes a step back.

“As I said earlier, I promised your niece I would save her mother, who I suppose must be your sister. The resemblance is uncanny. Especially now that her color is improving.” I offer her another smile, this time with my mouth closed, and she gives me a cautious nod and appears a bit more at ease.

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