Page 53 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“Your Majesty? You are looking well today.” It was that damn woman. Could she not just let it go? He rejected her in front of the guards and Alaneo. Why not be humble and admit defeat?

“What is it you want?” Osirus’s bored tone had a hint of irritation. “I thought you were still in confinement.”

Daphne gave a fake laugh. “They thought it was a mistake.” She waved her hand. “They let me go fairly quickly.”

“Or your father threw a tantrum,” Osirus mumbled, and I stifled back a giggle.

“I came here to find out about the girl you brought to your chambers. What is she to you?”

“I suggest you watch your inquisitiveness, Daphne. It will get you into misfortune,” Osirus spat, sitting upright in his chair.

“I only ask because she is human. You know I’m in charge of new species coming into the kingdom and keeping records. I need to know how long she is staying. Are you just using her as a concubine for the long or short term? These questions must be answered for the sake of the Court and taking charge of the census.” Daphne’s voice was docile, begging for answers. My heart knew what I wanted Osirus to say. The question was, what was he going to say?

Hearing the small mumbles in the throne room, people were scattered about with parchment paper. Asking questions, writing down notes, and some were laughing at jokes their partner had said. Osirus blew out a breath and looked out the window.

“Come on now, Osirus, we have been friends for years...”

Osirus banged his fist on the arm of the chair and leaned down on his throne to whisper-yell at her. “Yes, she is my concubine, a woman to warm my bed, and let me say this. She gives me more pleasure than you ever did. I’ll keep her as long as I want so I can keep you out of my damn hair!”

My breath hitched as I covered my mouth. He didn’t really mean that, did he? Finley said mates were for eternity that we would love each other and would never break each other’s hearts with rejection or pain.

But why did I feel my heart breaking when he spoke about me like that? He was trying to protect me, that was what he was doing, but why did hearing it escape his lips hurt? I peeked around the throne to see Daphne smirk at me.

“Ah, I see. Just a tumbleweed in the wind.” She jotted it down on a small pad of paper. “I will put that on the census that she won’t be here for long.”

Standing up quickly, I burst out of the back servant’s door of the throne room. Finley started calling my name, but I didn’t stop. “Melina, wait!” he called. I continued to run down the hallway, keeping the hood over my face. “He didn’t mean it! You know this!”

Windows flew past me as my dainty slipper shoes slapped the hard-marbled floor as I turned sharply down a servant’s corridor. Finley’s voice continued to fade as my breaths became brash. I would not stop running until I felt more pain in my limbs than in my heart.

He didn’t mean it. He was protecting me, I chanted over and over in my mind.

Then why did it hurt?

Chapter Twenty-Four

Osirus

Ididn’twanttoleave her. Every day she grew more and more beautiful in my eyes, her confidence in herself was growing, and her trust in me was not far behind. She was opening her heart bit by bit, and I was going to make sure she saw how much I loved her and wanted to take care of her tonight.

With my day filled with nonsense meetings, social gatherings, and plans to overthrow the Court with several trusted Parliament members. On top of it all, I needed to woo my mate. Clara wasn’t kidding when she told me that I would have my work cut out for me. Melina was a stubborn little human, but precious and worth it all.

Today, I gave her a cape that matched my attire. She might not have realized it, but it was a fae tradition to dress alike when courting to symbolize our proposed mating intentions if one mate was reluctant. Outside of the Fae Kingdom, many might have thought of a delayed mating as a recipe for disaster, but it showed the strength and the seriousness of our bond.

I was reluctant to let Melina go out into the marketplace. However, with my personal guards plus two boisterous fairies, I was sure she would be fine. No one would know who she was and be none the wiser. I also had a willing pixie that took a liking to Melina the night she ran from me, Leah. She agreed to be my little spy to watch Melina as she traveled through the marketplace and report back to me quickly if there was a need to.

“Your Majesty!” I rolled my eyes internally. “I’m glad you're back. I’m sure your trip to the Cerulean Moon Kingdom was fruitful?” Cosmo strolled up to the throne. He had been harassing me for decades for me to marry his daughter, and I have never swayed in my decision.

“Yes, Cosmo, it was. The fae and the shifters are now at peace for at least the last five hundred or so years,” I said facetiously. I popped a grape in my mouth, only to keep my mouth shut about his whore of a daughter.

“Good, good, now that is settled. Why don’t we talk about you finding a queen? It has been too many years of you being alone, and my daughter is holding out for you. The perfect match you both would be!” He smiled brightly. “In fact, the Court even approves of it! It’s a match made in paradise!” I continued to munch on my grapes absentmindedly.

“Thank you for the concern, but I’ll hold out for my mate. If you will excuse me, there are other people in line wanting to speak with me.” My hand waved behind him.

Alaneo snorted back a laugh as Cosmo gave a leery eye.

“You can’t be single forever, you know.” I raised my eyebrow at the hellion.

“There is a law by your eight hundred and twentieth birthday if the King has not found a mate, that he will marry one of the Court member’s daughters.” He smiled radiantly. The Dark fairy thought he had the upper hand on me.

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