Page 59 of A Beastly Court

I hadn’t realized I’d been toying with the ruby engagement ring, working it loose on my finger either to pluck it off or adjust it to fit more snugly.

I ignored his implied question. “What becomes of Redbud? Are you going to leave everyone behind to be terrorized by the mallaithe and sluagh here?”

“Of course not. They will be left in Alec’s care.”

“Alec?” I sputtered.

“He has been loyal second, Meadow, and I will see that rewarded.” His tone brooked no further discussion on the matter.

Some small piece of me conceded that at least Ossian wasn’t leaving them high and dry… but under Alec’s leadership? The man was a bully, a covetous and jealous bully. However, maybe those very attributes would make him work harder on securing the court once Ossian was gone—he wouldn’t want anyone taking it away from him.

“Make a fae bargain with him, Ossian,” I told him abruptly. “Make it so he cannot abuse the power you give him.”

The fae king gave me a scrutinizing look. “Your friends hold too much sway over you. I will not cripple Alec’s rule by building in loopholes for them to exploit.”

“They’re my friends! They wouldn’t do that. Ossian, I just want your word that they’ll be safe and happy. That’s all that matters.”

“Is it?” He paused, weighing my concerns with a frown. Then: “I cannot promise them happiness—that is an individual endeavor. But, if you wish it,” the fae king said gently, “those who want to join us in Elfame, after my court is secured, may come. Though, they can only join us if you accompany me, Meadow, like you promised you would. Please… keep the ring?”

I was still fiddling with it, undecided.

He took the opportunity of my indecision to step even closer, to wrap his arms around me, and suddenly the passageway wasn’t so cold. It would be so easy to lean into him, to feel his strength and warmth envelop me. To let the golden haze curl around my consciousness and bleed away all my irritation and leave behind nothing but happiness. Allow the rubies at my throat and ears and finger to convince me I only held a deep, burning passion for this male.

Easy, but not right. I held my hand with the ring up between us.

“I want to be worthy of this ring, but you need to be worthy of it, too,” I told him.

His jewel-bright eyes met mine and burned with an intensity I couldn’t name. “I will be,” he said, taking the ring and pushing it down to the base of my finger. The golden haze swept harder around me then, and his hand moved to cup my cheek. “Do you love me, Meadow?”

There was only one answer I could give him. “You’ve stolen my heart, Ossian.”

His smile was soft, and, keeping one arm around me, he pushed open the door to the courtyard and guided me inside. “Then, my queen, let’s prepare you for your future station.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

To my surprise, Ossian didn’t leave me to my own devices in the courtyard. Instead, he settled himself behind me on the ground, his long legs framing my crossed ones, his hands flat on my knees. Such a position normally would’ve set my pulse a-flutter and sent a longing pang deep into my abdomen, but nothing about his posture relayed that he was feeling amorous. Arrayed around us was a crescent-shaped cluster of potted autumnal plants. Surely Flora was running out of terra-cotter planters by now.

“Remember how I told you to draw from the inside, rather than externally? This time, when you take from the plants,” he instructed, “truly bond to your tree first. Even if you cannot fully fuse with it, keep one hand on it at all times. Be a conduit, Meadow. It is not you siphoning, but your magic. You are merely the bridge. And when the plant’s life energy comes into you, direct it into the tree. Don’t let it go wherever it wants, understood? Let you magic decide where it is best used.”

I nodded, too nervous to speak. Ossian had never stayed before—was this because of our quarrel before? Was he showing me the deference and respect I’d asked for? Had Daphne been right, that all we’d needed was a little communication? While half of me rejoiced, the other half of me was terrified he’d find Sawyer hidden in my foraging bag, which was tucked away in my lap. The fae king had only looked at it with a disgruntled expression but hadn’t said anything. Yet.

“I’ll watch and direct you,” the fae king said, hands gripping my knees just a little bit tighter. “Let me in, love.”

When he didn’t force himself, his consciousness flowing down the channel of our fated mate bond was uncomfortable but painless, just something eerie, like the feeling of a vaccine diffusing beneath your skin. Instead of joining him as a spectator of my cursed oak tree as I normally did, I placed my hand on the trunk, fingertips hooking around the lip of the knotty hole I’d noticed only this morning. I was a highly observant individual by nature, so Violet’s chastisement from earlier had stung. Perhaps it was a recent development instead of an oversight, a consequence of becoming. Regardless, it was very clearly the heart of my tree, and while I was curious to look inside to find the source of the golden glow, I refrained. No, not with Ossian here. This was something private.

“Begin, love. Take from just one plant.”

I obeyed, the grounding technique I’d adapted to my hands making the process easier than ever before. As instructed, I focused on drawing inwardly, from the oak tree, pulling its magic and need through my body and out through my fingers curled around the white aster. Then I waited, narrowing my focus on the knotty heart.

Please, friend, I implored it. We must do this.

Silence.

Not for him. My resolve tightened with the declaration. This is for us. Only us.

Silence.

Then it came.