Page 84 of Atop the Faerie Throne
“Yes,” all three of them answer, without hesitation, though Prae rolls her eyes the tiniest bit.
“And do you now commit to honour your bonds in love and trust before Danu?”
Three yeses echo back, and the disconcerting impression of the Goddess studying them intently through my eyes grows, like she’s weighing up their souls and the sincerity of their promises at the same time. She holds my tongue silent while she searches for whatever she’s hoping to find, and the crowd beyond grows restless.
Her gaze switches between eyes of ice, of stone, and of fire. Inexplicable understanding flows freely inside me, as if Danu is giving me insight into her choice to tie them together. Eventually, she finds whatever she’s looking for and lets me continue, offering up the blade lying on the altar.
“Then pledge your vows to each other.”
Prae grabs the knife before either of her princes can, drawing it decisively through her skin before Florian, and finally Gryffin, can do the same. Their blood drips from their hands onto the stone as Danu takes their palms and layers them over one another.
“Blood to blood, now three are one. Mate to mate,” they chant, and Danu’s approval warms me from my head to my toes.
She takes full control before I can say the next traditional words, laying both of my hands on either side of theirs.
“What I have decreed, none may tear asunder.”
Dozens of eyes fly to mine, and I know they see the Goddess’s glow, because I can see it reflected in Florian’s armour.
As quickly as they look up, heads bow, but Danu’s next words are soft and designed not to carry.
“I have set you on a difficult path. Forge it well, for hundreds follow in your wake.”
With those ominous words, she shifts her focus to those gathered. “I bless this mating and charge each of you as witnesses of my Will made flesh. There is no difference between Fae and Fomorian that compassion, tolerance, and love cannot overcome.”
The priests and priestesses around the courtyard are on their knees now. I’m pretty sure someone in the corner is scribbling down every word that comes out of my mouth, but Danu has already withdrawn.
I have to blink a little, shifting my weight to dislodge the heavy sensation that lingers after Danu’s possession, but the three of them are already stepping back, Prae kissing Gryffin and then Florian without prompting.
Then the cheers go up, the knights’ loudest of all, and the Goddess’s interference is forgotten, save for a few sideways glances.
“You okay, dragonfly?” Bree whispers, coming up behind me and resting both of his hands on my shoulders.
His thumbs press into my neck, kneading muscles I didn’t know were tight until they start to loosen under his touch.
“Fine,” I whisper. “Danu seems invested in those three. We should make sure their party goes off without a hitch.”
Judging by the way Lore is blinking around the room, stealing nibbles from each of the trays, someone might need to corral him into something productive sooner rather than later.
Before I can take more than four steps towards him, a small cough from behind me captures my attention. I sigh inwardly but don’t let my pleasant expression falter as I turn to face Cressida. The queen of autumn has been surprisingly civil, given that Prae snubbed her by refusing to hold the ceremony inIllidwen. For a second, during the vows, I actually thought I saw her smile.
Despite her manipulative actions in Illidwen, I think she secretly loves her nephew.
“Nicnevin.”
“Cressida.”
“I liked it better when you called her Cressidick,” Lore murmurs in my ear with his mouth still full, before blinking away with a crumb-covered kiss.
“He hasn’t changed.” The autumn queen adjusts her skirts as we both watch the redcap causing subtle chaos wherever he goes. “I am surprised, however, that you permit me in his presence, given how you reacted with Aiyana and Máel.”
Is she asking if I’m jealous about their previous relationship? I’m distracted by Lore blinking onto a table behind her and sneakily balancing a tiny flaky pastry in the coiled braids of her hair, so perhaps I don’t grasp her full meaning, but I answer her anyway.
“You have your own mates.” I shrug, doing my best to hide my smirk. “I understand how strong that bond is, and Lore has no interest in you.” Pausing, I snort lightly. “I’d have my hands full if I tried to kill every fae who’d ever slept with my Guard.”
Though for Bree, I’ll make an exception.
Cressida’s brows crease, her head tilting to the side slowly as something akin to surprise flickers in her gaze.
