Page 40 of Fae Unashamed

Gently pulling her closer, I tucked a knuckle under her chin, tilted her head back, and ravished her mouth until she moaned into my lips. The freedom made my heart race unexpectedly. When I pulled back, she smiled with her eyes closed like she had no reason to look out for danger so long as I was around.

I would live up to that expectation, too. I would make sure that she never saw harm again. My sword, my steed, and my beast were all at her service.

“Ready to head back?” she asked.

I noted that she didn’t sayhome. The castle behind me invited us back inside, but it wasn’t home, either. Home was that little apartment we’d left behind in the mortal realm, where she and I could be alone without anyone under our heels.

But we couldn’t go back there just yet. We had a war to win. Until we defeated Beryl, danger would always be hot on my queen’s heels. She would never be able to relax or live the life that she truly dreamed of.

Maybe I had no real goals in life, but I would make sure that she achieved hers. It was the least I could do to thank her for all she’d done for me. Not only had this woman pulled me out of the bottom of a bottle, she’d saved me from the contract hanging over my head for nearly a hundred years.

“Ready whenever you are, my love.” The words were delicious on my lips.

Though they weren’t as delicious as Cerri was.

Cerri

Hand in hand,we stepped in-between, leaving behind the moody hunting castle for the bright interiors of the Seelie castle.

Or so I thought.

When I went to squeeze Rhoan’s hand to make sure he was still beside me, I grasped nothing but air. My stomach dropped. Time slowed as it hit the ground. I turned to find no one beside me.

To make matters worse, the floor beneath me shook. The entire castle rumbled like Beryl had come back to make sure the thing fell once and for all. I shoved my arcana into the earth and brought it up through the tree holding the castle together.

The branches grew and wrapped around every inch of the castle until it was just as much wood as it was stone. The process left me breathless and light-headed, but I still needed to figure out what had happened to Rhoan.

In a panic, I spun and tried to step in-between again. I didn’t get far before someone called out for me. I heard Tal’s voice. Ostara was right behind him, and her entourage followed on her heels.

I considered stepping away, nonetheless. No one could stop me. I’d just gotten Rhoan back. There was no way that I would leave him behind again.

But I’d also been putting off everything that needed to be done here. If I left right when they thought that I’d returned, they would think that I wanted nothing to do with my own court. Frustration made me clench my trembling fists at my sides.

“Where is Feri?” I asked as Tal and Ostara approached.

A small ferret unfurled from Ostara’s collar. He lifted his head in question. I’d been avoiding the annoying little creature because he wanted to argue etiquette in a world where it no longer mattered, but I could use his help right about now.

“Yes, princess?” Feri asked apprehensively.

Even he knew I was about to use him. The creature had betrayed me once. I was hoping that his guilt over the incident would be enough to make him help me without question. It wasn’t like I was asking much…though it wouldn’t seem that way.

“I need you to visit a certain domain and report back to me. Can you do that?”

Tal cocked his head.

The ferret narrowed his eyes at me. “Which domain, princess?”

I grimaced. “Faust’s…”

Feri cried out in outrage.

I held up both hands, palms out. “I can explain. I’m not sending you into the enemy’s domain. I promise.”

Feri heard nothing coming out of my mouth. The creature shouted about how high my expectations were and how I was ready to sacrifice him for his singular misstep. Before I could chastise the rodent, Tal’s hand snapped out and closed around the little creature’s muzzle.

Tal turned to me. “What happened to Rhoan this time?”

Ostara gasped and put a hand over her mouth. “Has Faust gained complete control over your beastly husband?”

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