Page 64 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“Please,” the pink fairy spoke. “They have ruined our crops, and several of us have been seriously injured. We can’t fight them off in our larger form for a long period, and they are reproducing at an alarming rate around our village. Their own natural predator, the bear, doesn’t live around us. We don’t know how the Macklebees got there in the first place! They are a rainforest-type species.”

“That isn’t our problem, the King—”

“Will help,” I spoke boldly. Osirus smirked and held his hand on my thigh. “The King is supposed to help all his subjects. Why would he not help the village of Dayfeather?” The room became quiet, too quiet. All were looking up at me, but I kept my face pinned on Cosmo.

“They are all but fairies, Melina,” Cosmo said passively.

“You speak to her by her title, Speaker!” Osirus yelled. Fae in the room backed up in fear. “She is right. We help all the kingdom. Alaneo, grab the General of Subject Affairs, relay the information to him, and get a team out there.” Alaneo did a slight bow and smirked at me. I was still angry. He was to speak for the people, and obviously he wasn’t.

“Easy, darling. I know you are angry, but we must be slow.” I leaned back in his arms, and he pulled me close, kissing me slowly and sweetly. He parts our lips and looks into my eyes. “You will be an amazing queen.”

“I hope so,” I whispered.

The next several hours passed, and I kept my mouth completely quiet. Cosmo would often butt in to give his own opinion, which Osirus ignored blatantly, which only fueled his fire. I knew the Court was corrupt, and even with Cosmo blatantly rebutting everything other than the fae people, it was apparent things needed to change. I was just glad that Osirus cared for his entire nation and species instead of just the fae.

My eyes were growing heavy, but my bladder was full, so I had to nudge Osirus during a five-minute break between meetings. “I need the lady’s room,” I whispered quietly, and he only chuckled. I had been so comfortable sitting on his lap, but I also needed to stretch my legs.

“I’ll come with you,” he muttered, and we both stood.

“Your Majesty, a word?” Cosmo gave an enormous smile and held out his hand.

Osirus looked down at him and gave him a firm, “No.”

“Your Majesty, it will only take a moment. You can have your guards escort her so we can talk in private. It is rather urgent. It involves the gnome Chief.” Osirus looked to Alaneo and the Red Fury and nodded. I was going to have an entire entourage to the bathroom.

“She never leaves your side,” he warned, and he pecked my lips lightly. “Be back soon, my queen.” I laughed and gave him one more kiss. If the bond was strong now, I craved what would be next.

Two guards in front, a guard, and an adviser behind me lead me to a private bathroom in a secluded hallway. “Be quick, Your Majesty,” Finley warned after returning from scouting the bathroom. I gave a mock salute while they laughed at me and entered.

I washed and dried my hands before making quick check in the mirror for any yucky crumbs mascara might have left behind. I walked out to an empty hallway. Not good. This told me nothing good was about to happen. I had two options: stay put or run and find the throne room as quickly as I could. Why wasn’t my Red Fury out here?

Preferring not to be a sitting duck, I ran. I continued to run until I hit the throne room doors and swung them open to find no one there. The room was still well-lit, but the absence of people had my gut churn. There were no sounds, not even birds on the outside, and my slippered feet were making plenty of noise. My heartbeat was thrumming in my head in panic.

The door behind me creaked open, and it was taking every ounce of power to turn and see who it was. I had not been afraid when I first found out about werewolves and the supernatural. Everything fit into place. My only fears were my emotions and getting hurt again, which I never should have been afraid of in the first place. This time, I had something to be afraid of. I was the target of the entire Fae Court, Daphne, Cosmo, and who knew who else.

So here it was. I was going to fight, whatever that entailed, physically, mentally, or with my wits because, by the Gods, I was going to get the happily ever after I freaking deserved.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Melina

“Carson?”Hisfacewasno longer carefree, and his brown curly wisps of hair had darkened from the last time I saw him. Small black veins were adorned on his shirtless chest. Carson was the last person I thought I would see here at this moment.

“Melina,” the voice strained as he walked toward me. “I need you to come with me.” All of this seemed wrong, and my legs wanted to move, but I couldn’t. I was paralyzed in fear.

“W-what are you doing here? Where are Rex and Sean?” I had never seen Carson without the other two, they were the trio that always stuck together to get the women they wanted, yet all yearned for the day they found their mates.

“They are waiting for us. We need to get you to safety. There have been some disturbances in the Golden Light Kingdom, and Luna has sent us here to retrieve you and bring you back to the Crimson Shadows Pack, where you will be safe.” Carson told me he and his friends were the top trackers in his pack; that was for certain. He tracked me all the way back to the Golden Light Kingdom and knew exactly where I was. He was on suicide missions before to save Luna Clara. Was this really a rescue mission or something more?

“We don’t have time, Melina! We need to go. The enchantment will only last so long.” Carson took a few steps forward again, but I stepped back. The look was hardened as he continued to hold out his hand. “I told Luna I would keep you safe. I kept you safe in my pack when you visited. You must trust me.”

Osirus’s face flashed in my head. No, Osirus was to keep me safe. Osirus would have told me if I needed to leave. He wouldn’t have kept these things from me. What was that code word he used when he told Primrose to halt the wolves from coming to protect me? Axis. He would need to know that word to execute a plan.

“What’s the code word?” I stood firm, my stance unwavering.

His eyes went from confusion to anger. He didn’t know. I was in danger from someone I thought was my friend.

Carson lunged at me to grab my arm, but I darted away. I knew I couldn’t outrun him, but whatever enchantment powers were in the room had to fade. I just needed to stay away until then. Carson snarled as I went behind a large table in the room used for signing documents. Time, I needed time.

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