Page 118 of Finding Love with the Fae King

My heart clenched at the thought of the seven carriages that held the unmated. Would Osirus have been the same if I never showed up? Several attendants came by and opened doors, helping them all out one by one. Servants grabbed their bags and led them to the palace. Even though my heart ached, there was one person I wanted to see, Elaine, Daphne’s mother, and hopefully the redemption I had hoped Daphne would take.

Nissa led me to the first carriage that carried only Elaine. She had a quilt draped over her shoulders to keep her warm. The long, deep purple hair covered her face as she exited—the bright light blinding her, causing her to keep her hand over her eyes. “Elaine, it is an honor to meet you,” I spoke as I held out my hand to hold hers. Elaine gave a small smile and took her other hand to pat mine.

“I’m so sorry about my daughter. She knows how important mates are. I have failed yet again as a fae to teach her these things.” If her eyes could have gone any deeper into despair, they would have. The once light, flawless skin was now gray and lifeless. Shaking the shock at her appearance, I shook my head.

“Daphne has told many how she wants to protect you, I am hoping this is the truth and if she hears your words, I pray to the Goddess she will ask for forgiveness and drop this whole thing.” Elaine nodded her head in understanding.

“Don’t be so sure, Your Majesty.” She gave a sad smile. “Cosmo is a cunning man. His words tasted like honey to her. She looked up to him yet despised him at the same time. It is not only me she wants to protect, but her thirst for power is there. His bad blood runs through her veins.” Nissa and I stood in shock as Elaine lowered herself from the carriage as we walked in.

There might be no hope for Daphne at all. Her mother had given up on her, and she hadn’t seen her for years. Who was this Cosmo, and how could it be so cruel? The few times I had met him, he was cunning and tricky, like the rumors of how fae were. Brainwashing Daphne might have been his tactic, and there was no hope for her.

I supposed not everyone could be blessed with forgiveness.

I took extra care of Elaine and wanted to see her to her chambers. Her story was heartbreaking to me, forced into a loveless bonding, begging for him not to bond with her. Her own mother had the same fate, yet Elaine was more substantial than her mother, hoping she would find her mate. However, from the looks of her ragged body, her time was almost gup. If she didn’t find her mate soon, she would give up and no longer have the strength to breathe.

Nissa and I tucked her into the bed and left her so she could rest. The trip had tired her out too quickly. Before leaving the room, Elaine beckoned me to her bed and used all the strength she had to hug me. Shocked at the initial contact, I quickly hugged her back.

“Thank you,” she sobbed as I rubbed her back. “For trying to give Daphne a chance.” Before I could respond, her head lulled into my shoulder, and I saw she had fallen asleep. I laid her down gently as you would a baby. I put an extra blanket over her fragile body and stepped out of the room. As much grief and pain I felt in my heart, I could also feel a pull, and it was pulling me to another room.

Osirus was in his study, discussing with Alaneo and Nyx the plans for the next several days while Nissa was tending to the unmated fae. Following the pull, I was led down a quiet hallway I had never gone down. Several servants bowed until the head maid greeted me. “Your Majesty, your father and brothers have arrived. We have put them in the Southeast Wing on the bottom floor so they can have easier access to the ocean.” A smile graced my face as I rushed out a ‘thank you’ and ran toward the pull.

It was my family! The pull that Lucca used to talk about when I entered the water that he felt, I felt it here on land. Running quickly, my wings fell open all on their own as I pushed in the door to the guest chamber.

My father turned from looking out over the waters of the sea with his hands behind his back. He looked like an older king should look—regal, robust, immaculate in his shell-adorned attire. Dad looked like a land king. Royal blue suit, cuffed with pearls, and his dark scruffy beard for his human appearance, made him look handsome.

“My Princess!” he spoke in his smoldering tone while he held out his arms. I ran to him, and he engulfed me while caressing my cheek. “My beautiful Melina, you have changed.” He stared in awe as he played with my hair.

“It seems you have more of me in you than I realized. After you mated, you took on my hair and our family colors.” Father gritted his teeth at the last part, knowing his daughter had been deflowered. I blushed, and he pursed his lips as he shook it off.

“All grown up, and these wings?” He looked over my shoulder. “These don’t look fae at all, they look….”

“Like a butterfly, I know. I guess colorful wings instead of scales?” I wanted approval, and his glistening eyes only confirmed he loved it.

“They are gorgeous, Princess.” Father engulfed me in another hug as he took a sniff into my hair. His body stiffened as the caressing of my back stopped. Pulling away, he held me at arm’s length. I was giving him a questioning look. He gave a small smile.

“Who have you been with today?” Not understanding what he was asking, I named off several people until I realized.

Elaine.

“Why are you asking me who I have been with?” My father stiffened again and rubbed his beard.

“There is a different smell to you, and it intrigues me.” My eyes opened wide, and I covered my mouth.

“Come with me!” I whisper-yelled as I grabbed his hand. Father started laughing as I tried to pull his body to the door.

I prayed to the Goddess that my intuition would be correct, and that this entire problem would be solved. Killing two birds with one stone. My heart leaped as I tried to pull him faster. “What is the rush, Princess? Where are you taking me?” My father was oblivious. How in Goddess’s name could he not have known? Well, he probably gave up, too. The only reasons he hadn’t succumbed to depression were his sons and me. He had something to live for.

Unlike Elaine. She had given up on her daughter.

We stood outside the door to Elaine’s room. Father looked at me questioningly as I cracked the door. The door made a small moan as we entered the darkroom. Holding my father’s hand, I continued leading him to the other side of the enormous bed. Elaine had opted to sleep close to the nightstand so she could reach for water if needed. Her chest rose slowly up and down as we got closer.

Her face was pained. She was dreaming of her past with Cosmo or the loneliness in her heart. My father had a look of pain on his face. “Who is she?” he barely spoke.

“Elaine, she has a terrible past, but in short, she is giving up on finding her mate.”

My father clutched his chest as he knelt beside the bed. His fingers pushed back the dark, purple hair as he took in her scent.

I backed away from him so he could study her. I wanted to scream for her to wake up, but this was too precious of a moment. His crown stood still on his head as he brushed her lips with his fingers. Elaine moved her head closer to his hand, and my father’s fist clutched to his side.

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