Page 5 of The Fae Queen's Harem

Rosalinda stared hard at Zembyr, and he held her gaze firmly. It seemed they both commanded our small Fae army, and neither outranked the other. I might have to decide who should lead in the end. Rosalinda was brilliant and impulsive, but Zembyr was a solid rock.

“This is a stealth mission,” Iokul agreed. My ice dragon was all for sneaking up on our foes and striking them by surprise.

“The imposter queen knows that we’re coming,” Rosalinda said, thinning her lips.

“Shall we pass through?” I asked, keeping my face neutral, though my heart pounded so hard. I would soon face off with my ancient enemy, who was said to be powerful beyond measure, who enslaved a demigod.

What if I couldn’t overcome her but instead brought demise to everyone on my side? And what if I was already too late to save Elvey?

“Scouts!” Zembyr called, and one third of the Fae warriors gathered around him.

“We’ve waited centuries for this,” Zembyr said. “Let’s clear the path for our rightful queen!”

His inspiration speech was the shortest I’d ever heard.

Zembyr raised his longsword, dove into the shimmer, and disappeared from view.

The scouts charged after him and also vanished beyond the shimmer.

Henry growled and shot forward, and he was gone, too. Sybil chirped and flew around me, her wings beating rapidly.

I heard no sound from the other side. It was as if they had all fallen into a deep pond like a tiny rock, not causing a ripple.

Henry!I called, my heart jerking in anxiety.

He didn’t respond, but Sybil chirped furiously.

“What will happen to those who aren’t allowed to enter the Fae realm?” I asked.

“They die instantly on the other side,” said Rosalinda.

My eyes flashed darkly. “My hellhound just crossed,” I said. “He didn’t answer my call.”

I shouldn’t have let Henry come.

“Beasts belong to nature,” Rosalinda said softly. “He’ll be fine.”

I turned to gaze at my mates. They were dragons. Even though they’d mated to me and bonded to me, there was a chance that they could die on the other side. I wouldn’t survive if that happened. I wouldn’t sacrifice them.

Blood rushed in my ears as an unquenchable fear seized me.

My mates held my gaze steadily. They read my thoughts and dread.

“Not a chance,” Blaze said. “We go where you go. Not even death can stop us.”

I bit my lip. “I can’t risk this—”

“We’re risking it together,” Iokul said. “Trust us.”

Rai leaned in and kissed me with warm assurance.

I trembled, then I grabbed Iokul’s left hand and Rai’s right one. Blaze put his hand on my shoulder. I’d be using my bond to them to shield them.

Sybil,I called, and she landed on my forearm, her claws sinking into my skin.

We pushed through the shimmer together.

I felt a light resistance, as if the ward wanted to spit out my mates. It wouldn’t stop me, because it recognized me—the true ruler to Sihde.

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