Page 20 of Finding Love with the Fae King

Alaneo looked up through his lashes and gave King Osirus a wink. “Anything for a future queen.” Alaneo again cut Esteban’s skin, and I whimpered a bit.

Wait, what?!

“Come now, darling, you don’t need to see that.” King Osirus took his cape and covered my face, which had me burying my face in my chest. It felt so intimate, but the fear that was floating through my veins pushed it aside as I gripped his cloak tighter. Osirus’s hand rubbed up and down my back as the cloak shielded me from unwanted eyes.

As if reading my thoughts, Tulip spoke up. “Did you just say Queen?” Tulip squealed as Alec held her closely, not being fond of the threat before him. Many wolves looked on, many in shock. Tulip’s mother glanced at Luna Clara in acknowledgment and let out a smile.

“Yes, Melina is my mate, future Queen of the Golden Light Kingdom,” King Osirus said as smooth as silk. Putting both my hands on his chest to back away, he only tightened his grip on me. “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you.” Before he could touch my cheek, Esteban let out another roar.

“She is mine, fucker. She can’t be yours!”

My head darted to Esteban, who was now restrained by Carson, Sean, and Rex. All three started tying silver ropes onto his limbs while he struggled.

“Stand down, Esteban!” Alpha Kane growled while Esteban backed down, showing his neck. Many wolves looked on in amusement at how this was going to play out. One wolf claimed me, while the Fae King also said I was his.So who is my mate, really?

“How about we do a mating test? I just read about it in one of the history books!” Luna Clara chirped. “That way, there is no question. It is quick and effective, and then we can all move on and let the love birds go on their way!” Clara started taking Alpha Kane’s black-tie off, came up to me, and pulled me out of King Osirus’s arms.

“I know this is a lot,” Clara whispered to me. “Trust me, everything will work out. I know Osirus is your mate. The Goddess told me not too long ago.” Osirus didn’t let his face show much expression I had gathered, but I thought I saw a faint smile across his lips.

“Luna, I’m human. I can’t have a mate. I’m not even meant to be here.”

Little did she know I had a double meaning behind that statement. One, being here in a supernatural world, and two... My parents said I was an accident. I really wasn’t supposed to be here.

“It will come in time. The Goddess mentioned you were stubborn and would not easily accept it, but you will soon. I promise.” I scrunched up my nose in defiance, and she put the tie around my eyes.

“Everyone, listen!” Clara’s voice demanded. “Melina will stand here and hold her hand out. We will have several unmated males come up and hold her hand. Whichever one she feels the bond with by just holding her hand will be declared her mate.”

“That sounds too easy. How can you go off by touching who your mate is?” I rolled my eyes into the blindfold and crossed my arms. Many people laughed, which only added fuel to my anger.

“Trust me, you will know,” Clara sang.

The crowd went silent as, one by one, they came up and held my hand. After a few seconds, they would take their hand away, and another would replace it. The crowd was dreadfully silent, and my anxiety was at an all-time high. I could feel eyes staring at me as these males came up, waiting for something to happen. Rose came up behind me and put her hands on my arms. “Melina, it’s all right. Nothing is going to happen. Me and Elm are right behind you. You’re safe.” I nodded slowly, feeling some comfort, but not enough to take away my insecurities.

Another hand came to mine, and I felt a squeeze. It was a possessive squeeze, and it almost burned my hand at how uncomfortable it was. Stepping back, people whispered but were quickly silenced by a growl.

A few moments later, I felt another hand slide into mine. Out of all the hands I felt, this one felt the most welcoming. Butterflies, no, large birds, soared in my stomach. It took me to a place of comfort I never knew. My chest felt warm, and I could almost feel love in it. Love in a touch, it was something unheard of. My mind told me to pull away, but my body did the opposite. It wanted to lean into it and feed from it. Fill in the holes of my soul of the pieces missing.

“What is it supposed to feel like?” I whispered slowly to Rose. My voice was shaky, scared of the unknown. The hand squeezed me a tad tighter, only confirming the comfort it gave me.

Mom bent down and whispered in my ear, “Like nothing you’ve felt before. It fills you in places you want to be filled.”

There was a long pause, and I sighed heavily. “Him,” I whispered so low that I was afraid no one would hear me. There was a growl and large applause that hid away someone’s frustration. The blindfold was taken off me, and there, stood before me, was the angel that I could never take my eyes off.

For the first time, I saw an enormous smile on his face; it was captivating, and I couldn’t help but blush at the way he looked at me. My mind was yelling at me to stop, but my heart pulled me in another direction, and that was to be near him.

“Take Esteban away until he can be taken back to his pack,” Alpha Kane commanded as my friends Carson, Sean, and Rex dragged him away. Esteban was thrashing about, throwing out profanities, but I was quickly redirected by Osirus’s hand to look away from him.

Alpha Kane addressed the crowd to disperse and to enjoy the party, not just a mating ceremony party any longer, but the celebration of the Fae King finding his mate. Fists clenching my dress, I saw the crowd continue to murmur and disperse while still looking at me, some with jealous eyes and some with cheerful faces of congratulations.

Osirus held out his hand to me, and I couldn’t help comparing his large one to my small one. “Come, darling. I’m sure you have questions.”

With my hand in his, he led me to a more private table and pulled out my chair as I sat down, and a drink was automatically set to my right. His arm was draped over my chair and kept me close to his side. I should have felt uncomfortable with the way his side was pressed up against mine, but I didn’t.

Tulip waved at me from my peripheral, and I couldn’t help but look her way. She was smiling and drawing little hearts in the air while Alec tried to pull her to the dance floor, rolling his eyes.

“Melina, I want you to meet some very important people of mine. They will keep you safe if, for whatever reason, I am not around. Trust only them, all right?” I gulped a wad of spit audibly, wanting to question why I should only trust these few men and not other people in his kingdom.

“This is Alaneo, my right-hand man, my adviser.” Osirus displayed his hand out to show me Alaneo.

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