Page 77 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
He would be the first to feel my wrath. To feel what it was like to have my soul stripped when I’d heard my mate had been attacked.
“Then you don’t know for certain that the humans living here helped them?” I asked it slowly, thinking through each word before I spoke it.
“What other explanation is there?”
I didn’t know, but I couldn’t cast out those I’d taken in because of fear. I wanted to. Guardians, I wanted to.
For what felt like the hundredth time, indecision plagued me.
“The important thing is you’re safe,” I said, wanting to pacify her nerves while mine built and built. “The younglings are safe. Our babes are safe.”
“For how long?” Her eyes crashed into mine, and I drowned in their despair.
“I’ll declare a state of emergency order, mandating every person, human or fae, to stay home for as long as it takes to search them,” I said. “I’ll personally go through every home if I must. We’ll find out if anyone harbored them and if there are any guns in this realm. I swear it, Teddy.”
“Kieren’s magic allows him to see lies,” she said. “He’s young, and I don’t want him involved in this mess, but maybe there are other fae with similar magic. Adult fae.”
“Truth-tellers. I’ll issue a command for our truth-tellers to come forward to aid us,” I promised, thinking of the truth-teller that lived in the castle.
Garrison, whose mother worked as one of our castle employees, would be a good choice to lead this investigation alongside George.
She pressed her palm against my chest, where my heart raced without signs of slowing.
“George tried to declare a state of emergency so he could order everyone to their homes, but the council or whoever he tried to meet with ignored him.”
I growled, my temper rising so fiercely my chest started to hurt. I couldn’t understand why they’d deny him though. Teddy ran her hand over where it throbbed the worst.
“I will have my coronation as soon as possible,” I said through gritted teeth. “If you’ll allow it, I’d like to coronate you as my queen. Whether I am present or away, you will have every right to make such declarations.”
She lifted her head from my shoulders and looked at me through wide eyes. “These are your people, Elias.”
“Yet it was you who suggested casting your own people out to protect the fae,” I replied.
“I—”
“I won’t force you into a role you don’t want,” I said. “But it is yours should you wish to pick up the mantle with me.”
A tentative smile built. “Would you share your burdens with me then?”
I rubbed my nose against hers and leaned down to do the same against her neck. I filled my lungs with her.
“You’ve asked me several times to share my burdens with you and our friends,” I said. “I’ve been stubborn about it, but yes, I’ll share them with you if that’s what you wish.”
“It is.”
“After the coronation, I’ll also officially name George as my commander,” I said. “In my absence, he’ll have full authority to do what he couldn’t today.”
“It won’t come to this again, though.” Although I thought she’d meant it as a declaration, it sounded more like a question.
“It won’t come to this again,” I answered.
For a few beats, she stayed quiet and content in my arms. Slowly, I felt her muscles lose their tension. I ran my hand through her hair, and she shifted so she could draw herself closer to me.
“Do you want to go inside and sleep?” I asked, not ready to let her go but knowing she must’ve been tired. “I heard everyone’s sleeping in the living room. Is it like the slumber parties Ryenne goes on about?”
She ran her nose along my throat, where she pressed the softest kiss on my Adam’s apple. “Similar. George, Javi, and Kieren even got the girls laughing and riled up with a pillow fight.”
“I’m sorry I missed it.” I was sorry I’d missed a lot of things. I couldn’t allow it to keep happening, though.
