Page 54 of Veiled

“I was going to meet you at that party with or without Reed, because that was the plan. I was supposed to get close, become your friend and blend in. I’m not really a people person, so that actually worked in my favor; we are very similar.” I smiled softly. She nodded.

“And that night?” She said softly, her tone laced with anger.

“If you are asking if I planned to have sex with you to get close to you, then you must think very low of me.” I spit out, glaring at her. She didn’t move, her eyes meeting mine straight on, not giving an inch.

“That night was unexpected- I felt drawn to you. What we felt was real. Every moment was real. The circumstances that led me there may have been false, but since then I have never been anyone other than myself.”

She scoffed, “except pretending to be human, but please continue! You were at the part where you were “sent” here to retrieve me like I was property- kidnap is the proper term by the way.” She pointed at me, “then take me to some random land because I was of age to be powerful and useful, am I right?”

“Yes and no. We were to bring you back, but not because you were only useful. Powerful, yes, as your lineage would have made you so by blood, but because of the prophecy given about 100 years ago, after the murder of our last matriarch. Beyond the Veil that separates the mortal realm from ours, home is ruled by the females of our line. In fact, it is unheard of for the males to take over unless it is for a grave reason, and even then it’s temporary. The prophecy suggested a female of great blood, hidden away with mortals, was destined to come back and return the balance in two hundred years, just like Kalen has described. These past three hundred years have been filled with strife, deception, and torture. The prophecy gave hope, and people started sneaking out, and the Seelie built a home heavily warded from the Queen’s influence. I have yet to go as I knew I wouldn’t exactly be welcome.”

“Why not?” She asked. I continued as if I didn’t hear her. I would get to that part.

“The prince of the second leading family went out for about a year, going on an expedition to the mortal realm. At the time, he met a mortal woman and they conceived a child. He asked for her to come back with him, but she refused. The prince was a kind Fae- he never forced her to come but he did watch over her. He sent missives to those loyal to the original rule in order to protect his baby girl.”

“Tell her who you are Remi…” demanded Kalen. I blew out a breath and glared at him. My uncle's mate always thought badly of me, but I did what I had to do because I thought I was right at the time. I came to see sense way too late and have regretted it every day since then.

“About 320 years ago, I was still young, by our standards, only 85 years of age, and I thought that the idea of a female matriarch, who was to have a child to carry on the line, was outdated. I was next in line for the throne. The queen at the time was my mother. I was urged to marry, and I refused countless times.” I growled and began to pace. “Why does a female have to be able to bear children in order to lead? I was angry. I have never been interested in men. I knew I wouldn’t bear my own child unless it was by doing something I was against, physically and emotionally. I just couldn’t do it. So, I became friends with people who I believed thought similarly, but they ended up being Dark Fae who had infiltrated the kingdom, who wanted to get closer to the lesbian princess,” I sneered, “of the Fae to try to kill the Queen. They used it to their advantage, and I fell in love, well I thought I did, with the leader of the group. Her name was Nicnevin. I called her Nici, but at the time I didn’t realize the significance of her name. I admit I was rebellious and neglected some of the things I really should have known. She was a queen of old, moreso known as Gyre-Carling. A strong witch, a strong Fae, with her own following of Fae, she just wanted another Throne. She wanted to rule over both the Seelie and Unseelie. Our people are great; widely spread throughout several countries and every location has its own form rule. Our home is part of the Greater Realm of the North. Our realm is closer to the human realm. The way the Veil works is a bit complicated, and this closeness made it easier to hide you, and just as dangerous as well. Regardless,” I waved my hand and tried to get back to the point.

“My mother was fair, just, and kind. She was loved by many; however, she was very stuck in her beliefs of tradition and it didn’t allow for much flexibility. The Fae are an old race, older than most as we were born from pure energy and magic when Gaia was first born into existence. I can respect sticking to who we are as a people, connecting to our origins. However, after thousands of years you can imagine that it wasn’t the most accepting of situations. Traditions can stifle. My uncle and his mate couldn't even be together freely because of judgement.” I gestured at Kalen and Hudson gasped.

“Like I said, I was angry, I let myself be fooled by people I thought were my friends, someone I thought loved me. I’m a loner for a reason, Hudson. You are the only person, beyond duty, I ever connected with.”

“That is where you are wrong Remi,” she interrupted, “I was and still am your duty, the marks don’t change that.” I felt my heart break a little, I needed her to understand. I spent these years not understanding what love really was, and now I knew I did.

I shook my head softly, “Yes, I came because of duty, to fulfill a prophecy, and to bring greatness back to a land that I help destroy. A land now split in two, with people now split into two; no balance in the Realm. I was given a gift for my birthday by Nici; the gift of loving without judgement. It was supposed to be a powerful dream draft that would allow me to manipulate my consciousness and live within my fantasies, even for a night. Except that night, they snuck into the castle, my mother having dismissed the guards for a night off, thinking herself safe between her and I for protection… they...they overwhelmed her, and they killed her while I slept. I woke up several days later to funeral preparations and an interim monarch. Nici had taken the throne. The implications of that were great. She is very powerful; known to bring the winter where she goes... destruction. To fight her was to die. She was cunning. I regret being taken advantage of. I wanted to love, but it was my downfall. I realized then that my emotions were truly frivolous, and I should have tried to be more understanding of my mother’s wishes instead of being a brat.” I sighed.

“The next leading family with no female to take over had to sit on the side, while a false queen stood on the throne for those days, causing descent. I wasn’t expected to wake up, but I did, however I was weakened by the potion. It worked more like a poison, which should have killed me, knowing after it is what Nici was known for. But it didn't, and the other family had hidden and protected me. The Prince and I became close friends. Nici led with cruelty. But tradition was female monarchs and with me in hiding, sick and weak, and the other family only having sons, we were stuck. That prophecy gave me hope. I continued to lead with the prince from the sidelines the best that I could, as a rebel. I was inclusive, encouraging our people to embrace beyond their norm and give people a chance to love who they loved, despite gender roles. The Fae always lived equally, for the most part. Everyone had large homes, food, jobs, and childcare, but a few trivial things like love were problematic. It was disgusting. However, the new queen was the opposite of what she had preached to me and undid the little I was able to do, behind the scenes.

She thirsted for power and reform and she changed the status quo. She started castes and Fae were being reduced to squalor. I tried to remain positive but when the time for the prophecy came around, the Prince confided in me that he had conceived a child with a magic female, meaning that the chances of her being Fae were more than 80%. I heard whispers that she wanted the child killed. The timing was right. It was perfect. The prince begged me to bring back the child to the realm in order for her to take her rightful place as queen. He expected someone weak, someone without training. But there were spies sent out and the tales of your strength and control surpassed his imagination. He ordered you brought back, in an official capacity, claiming a Fae dissenter was living in the mortal realm and should be brought to justice, as a cover. He sent me and Alvor to do it.”

“So, you’re the true queen.” Grayson stated. It wasn't a question, but I nodded.

“But instead of protecting your people for the past hundred years, you’ve been aiding and acting like a rebel and working with the second possible ruling family in the realm,” continued Ryder.

“So, your plan was to bring Hudson into a realm full of war and strife, and proclaim her queen? So now, when you're clearly standing next to her as her mate, how do you think that would work?” Growled Hunter.

“I would abdicate the throne in an official capacity.”

Hudson blewout a breath and visibly shook with anger, her eyes swirling, “So, then people would lay witness to the mating of two powerful families taking over after being subjected to disregard for three hundred and twenty years, assuming I even survived even entering the kingdom, because the previous queen was a pussy - is that correct?” Hudson stood up angrily. “I would suddenly come in, fight my way to the top, with Queen Remi at my side. How the fuck would that have even worked, Remi? Thinking like a damn queen here, you would be a dissenter, a rebel and an abandoner who suddenly brought the prophesized queen back, and you confidently abdicate and then I’m to take control? Nici would what? Just back away after planning a coop and holding her position for so long? Let's add that now I’m marked everywhere because I’m more powerful than anyone in history, apparently. Now add five fully marked mates and all of a sudden I’m supposed to walk in and say, ‘Hey, I’m the prophesied queen here to fix shit and, oh yeah, your old queen was here the entire time and now she is my mate, but I hope you trust me anyway even though she fucking ignored you all these years. By the way, I am ridiculously powerful, don’t be scared. I won't kill you...maybe.’ I’m sure that is going to go over great with everyone.”

I had nothing to say, so I didn’t. This was a risk; a calculated one, but a risk none-the-less, and one that would put her in danger from the current monarch and the powerful enemies who wish to do away with the idea of the monarchy altogether at this point. In effect, I was indeed planning on kidnapping her into a mess, simply because I was too selfish, focused more on my own needs, to want to take the seat myself.

“What confuses me is clearly Kalen has been helping rebuild the Seelie court with the Prince, who would be Hudson’s father, and he was sent to watch her, protect her and guide her. But yet it doesn’t seem that you knew about his role in all of this. In fact, it looks like the Prince sent you on a fool’s errand while she was guarded and protected the entire time. I wonder why that is?” Said Zane, standing up. “Maybe it was because he knew he couldn’t trust you with the real information and was sending you out to test your loyalty. Maybe he figured you were a part of Nici’s plan all along and wanted to see your next move. I don’t believe for a second you were actually sent for retrieval, which is interesting, to say the least, considering he sent both you and Alvor and only recently was Hudson ever attacked,” he finished looking around from Kalen and myself. He was actually making a lot of sense. I ran my hands through my hair, feeling lost - like I was missing something. I looked at Kalen and he gave me a look of indifference.

“Because the only way to test loyalty is to do just that. Overall, it was several decades of misguided actions and if he was protecting Hudson like Kalen said, he wouldn’t thrust someone into a position like that. No, if I was him, I would be testing loyalty or finding a viper in the nest. I’m going to go with the latter,” Hunter said thoughtfully, a direct contrast to the tangible anger radiating from his body. Silence fell in the room as everyone digested my words, and you could almost see the thoughts floating in the air while they considered what everything meant. I admit, everything made less sense now. What was the Prince trying to do and who was he trying to weed out?

“Remi, get out. Do what you think you need to do to prepare for this cluster fuck, because clearly we are stuck together, but for a few hours, at least, just go,” Hudson whispered after a few moments of silence. I looked at her sadly, in all her glory; beautiful, perfect, and uniquely her. Being mated, for the Fae, was beyond anything that could be explained in human terms. I would go, because I respect her, but we were one now. We would all feel the absence of the other and the guys would grow to be something akin to being my brothers. I sighed and walked up to her and looked at her in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. If there is one thing I have taken from my extensive childhood, all 300 plus years of it, is that if life was going to get any easier it was because you were dead.” I shrugged, unapologetically. It was the truth. You couldn’t expect life to ever be easy and I learned that lesson several times over. “It took all this time to feel a connection with someone, and me being selfish, leaving home and finding a forbidden prophesied princess to find a mate I can love. I finally have the opportunity to love someone who loves me the same, unapologetically, and I damn sure am going to be here to protect you and fight for you no matter how difficult shit is about to get, both emotionally and physically. War is coming, Hudson, whether we bring it there or they bring it here. Take a few hours. I’ll go pack my shit, because effective immediately I will be staying here with you all. We can talk when I get back because this,” I gestured between me and her, “is forever. Get used to it.” I grabbed her by the chin and kissed her hard, then pulled away. I walked to leave but turned back and said softly, “Give us the chance to love each other, Hudson. However you may see me now, all this shit has brought me to you, and I can’t be sorry for that.” I shut the door behind me and drove to the dorms. She may be stubborn, but we were cut from the same cloth and I could be just as difficult. This was going to be a new adventure for all of us, and we would face this shit head on. Fuck the past- we have a future to build.

Hudson

I sighedas the door closed behind her. My mind was in a bit of a whirlwind. I hated it. I truly didn’t like not having a handle on shit, and this was just a culmination of apparently hundreds of years of bullshit.

My mind was in chaos. She was going to kidnap me to take me back to places I never even knew existed until today. She wants to love me. She was going to put me in danger. She wants to love me. She didn’t even know we were going to be mates; I was clueless. She wanted to love me. So how did I feel? Angry. I couldn't think past that emotion right now. I must have been in my head for a few minutes because Kalen grabbed me and brought me into a hug, that itself shocked me back into the present, he was never a big hugger.

“Listen little minx, I’m going to do a perimeter check and call a few contacts. Ryder, Zane, Hunter and Grayson will stay here with you until Remi gets back. Don’t kill your mate,” he chuckled while tugging at my hair.

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