AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The trees shifted and the torchlight danced wildly as if a sudden breeze had swept through the field, but the wind hadn’t stirred and the ground had stopped rumbling. No, someone else was coming to join their party. Yichen could feel it from too many years being exposed to the fae.
“Yichen?” Xiao Dan inquired.
“Just…just stay back. Over there,” he stammered as he motioned for Xiao Dan and Xiang to retreat to where they had entered the clearing close to the river. With his other hand, he grabbed Rei’s wrist, wanting to pull the elf with him, but deep in his gut, he knew that Rei wasn’t moving an inch. Not until he faced her.
Seconds ticked by and no one spoke. Yichen began to wonder if anyone was breathing when a shaft of white appeared between the trees, growing larger as it approached. At last, a white unicorn slipped between two large maples filled with bright-red leaves as if it were the middle of autumn rather than summer. Riding sidesaddle on the unicorn’s back was Queen Belladonna of the fae. She was dressed in shining silver-and-white armor, her platinum-blond hair pouring over her shoulders in elegant waves.
There was no missing that she was Rei’s mother. They shared the same eyes and the same full mouth that twisted into that same adorable smirk that Yichen loved on Rei’s lips but hated on that woman’s face. She was ethereally lovely, and Yichen hated her for it. Not just because someone so evil shouldn’t be beautiful—but rather, it felt like she’d stolen Rei’s beauty. No one was supposed to be as beautiful as his mate.
Behind her marched a second army of silver-clad elves with pikes and swords, ready to protect their queen. One stepped forward and grabbed the unicorn’s reins, holding the queen’s steed steady so she could lightly jump to the ground.
She seemed to ignore the crowd completely as she strolled over to the body of her dead husband. Her face remained expressionless as she stared at him. For all Yichen could tell, she had the same emotional response of someone walking past a piece of trash they glimpsed in the gutter. With a casual wave of her hand, she ordered, “Burn him and collect the ashes. I might think of something interesting to do with them.”
With her former husband dealt with at last, she turned her attention to the gathering of people in the circle. Her eyes briefly skimmed over Trin, who immediately dropped to one knee along with Aire at his side.
“Your Majesty,” he said, his tone overflowing with respect as he bowed his head to her.
But she didn’t acknowledge him. No, the bitch had eyes only for Rei. Yichen’s heart softened a little toward the bastard son of the queen. Yichen might have been born the legitimate child of a king, but he knew what it was like to seek the approval of a parent and constantly feel like he was coming up short.
“Wistari—”
“Don’t,” Rei barked, cutting her off before she could rattle off his entire name. “Just…don’t. I don’t want to hear it, and I definitely don’t want to see you.”
Her warm expression didn’t waver one single bit as she stared at him. “Even though you rejected my offer, you still came through and got rid of your father for me. Always so thoughtful.”
“Killing that man had nothing to do with you.”
“I’m in such a good mood that I’m even willing to overlook that mess you made with Sarya.”
A soft growl rumbled up Rei’s throat while he scrubbed a filthy hand across his face. His words meant nothing to her. Yichen wasn’t sure if it was the same insanity that plagued King Ash or if the words of others didn’t touch her because she thought herself so far above everyone that she didn’t have to listen to them.
“Look, I’m happy to finish up our business right here and now, if that’s what you want,” Rei said. Yichen clenched his teeth to see his lover push a fake smile upon his lips. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, as if he were teetering on the edge of his control. As much as he would love to finish all business with the fae right now, the truth was that Rei was likely stretched to the limit of exhaustion after fighting the king. He needed to be taken somewhere safe to recuperate.
But Rei pushed on, and Yichen stood beside him.
“As I see it, you have two options, Your Majesty,” Rei began, twisting up her title in his mouth. “You can draw the fae to the door and return to our realm. Destroy the castle that’s holding the doorway open. Leave the humans alone. Just take it all back to the way it has been for centuries.”
Belladonna tipped her chin toward her chest as her smile grew wider. “And the second option?”
Rei took a step forward, putting some space between himself and Yichen while he drew both of his swords from their sheaths. “I kill you tonight, and our people will be forced to find a new leader. One that will show them the way from the brink of destruction.”
The queen didn’t even blink at the death threat, though a ripple of unease seemed to run through the ranks of the many soldiers who stood behind her. Yichen’s eyes swept over them, running a count in his head. They were outnumbered by a lot. By far too fucking much. If Rei did start this fight with the queen, she had to be taken out quickly. It would be the only way to get the rest of the army to retreat.
The army wasn’t their only problem. There was also Trin. If Rei’s half brother decided to side with his mother rather than Rei, they were truly screwed.
Rei knew this. He had to know their odds weren’t good. He wouldn’t make a rash decision. But regardless of what his mate decided, Yichen wasn’t leaving his side.
“That’s interesting,” Belladonna murmured. Her smile never wavered. “But I have a counteroffer. Just one. You return to the fae realm and resume your place as the crown prince.”
“No,” Rei snapped, and the queen’s smile shifted into something savage.
“I haven’t finished. You return to the fae realm, resume your place as the crown prince, and I’ll consider withdrawing all the fae to our home. It’s important that I have my son at my side again. This nonsense was all the king’s idea. I’ve grown tired of the game, and returning home with my son sounds more appealing.”
Yichen glanced at Trin out of the corner of his eye. The elf was still kneeling, his head bowed, but his left fist had tightened into a white-knuckled ball. She might be willing to “forgive” the past, but her every word was ensuring that Trin was going to come for Rei’s head at the first opportunity. Fucking bitch.
“I…” Rei whispered, but the rest of the sentence sounded like it had gotten cut off in his throat. He turned slightly and Yichen met sparkling, wide green eyes. Yichen’s heart stopped in his chest and he took a step forward. This was not part of their plan. Rei was supposed to be coming home with him. They were spending eternity together. Zelda provided them with the perfect answer to protecting Rei in the human realm.
We’re mates!
