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“Thea—”
“No.” I walked away from them. “That’s it, isn’t it? You cannot live without mortal girls in your realm. And we cannot survive it. You only live because you sacrifice us.”
There was pain in Talen’s eyes. “We would never hurt you.”
“Then leave us in our realm.” My voice shook. “Die yourself.”
It was at that moment Bash walked in—and he stilled. I didn’t take time to absorb the look on his face as I gathered my skirt and climbed the stairs. Talen and Odette stood frozen, but I could hear Bash behind me.
I hurried and made it to my doorway before he was in front of me. He reached for me, but I held myself away from him, opening my door and brushing past him. It might have been only a day for me since I’d seen him, but it had been eight months for him, and I saw that in his eyes. How he’d fallen for a queen and then lost her. How he never imagined I’d be back.
I didn’t want to be back. But now that I was, one thought plagued me. I must get out. And loving him stops that.
“I thought you’d left me,” he said, coming into my room. Everything looked just as it had before I’d gone, minus the flurry of dresses Odette and I had been going through. Those were now folded into a crate by my closet door. The fire was lit, and a book lay on the armchair beside it as if I’d only stepped out. My canvases sat on their easels with my paints in closed jars beside them, my brushes cleaned and ready. The beginning of Thorn’s portrait stared at me. I turned away from it.
“I should have,” I said. “Mortals don’t belong in this realm.”
He stepped toward me as I slipped into the closet and shut its door between us. His words came through.
“But fae do. Tell me you will stay with me. I can’t lose you twice.”
My heartbeat faltered. He was begging. I stepped into a shimmering gold dress.
“Thea,” he pled. “Let me help you. Whatever you need.”
“Can you save the queens from dying?”
“I can save you. After that, we will figure out how to save the rest. You have my promise.”
I opened the door, and he kept his distance respectfully. I didn’t close the gap, but I didn’t move away either.
But his eyes . . . so much pain. “What happened to you?” His voice was barely audible.
“I found out what it means to be a Mortal Queen,” I replied. “It means death.”
He reached for my hand, and I fought against the sliver of peace it brought. Stupid fae kings and their irresistible touch. Against my will, I stepped into him and he folded his arms around me. He held me close, saying nothing for the longest time.
Then he lifted my chin with his finger. “You will not die,” he said. “I won’t let that happen.”
I wanted to believe him, but all I could hear was Gaia’s neck snapping. He reached into his pocket. “This will guarantee you live.”
He offered a golden bracelet with pink gems to clasp onto my wrist. “I took the bracelet anyway, just in case you came back for me. We can still make you a fae.”
I blinked. “I want to be free.”
“With this, you will be.”
“Or I’ll be trapped forever.”
He met my eyes. “I cannot force you into this decision, but I can guarantee my love. Althea Brenheda, I will love you every day for every year of our long lives if you choose to stay with me. This”—he tapped the bracelet on my wrist—“assures you will live a long life. The fate of the Mortal Queens will not be yours.”
True to the nature of this realm, I didn’t have time to make a decision. But either way, stay or leave, I knew I’d give Bash the same reply. I’d decide later if it was a lie or the truth.
“You’re right,” I told him. “Make me a fae. Let’s do it tonight when I return from my realm.”
Bash smiled and tenderly cupped a hand to my cheek. He hadn’t changed in the past eight months at all. He was still the same man I’d seen last. Thick lashes, crooked grin, and eyes that soaked in the sight of me like he couldn’t get enough.
“I’m going to make you my queen,” he said in the gentlest voice.
