AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then, quickly, I hurried over to Bayleon to heal the gash on his thigh. I could feel his heated gaze on me the entire time. Once the cut closed over, I focused on both men, my chest constricting at the injuries I’d inflicted.
“I didn’t think I cut you so deep,” I said to them.
Bayleon sheathed his sword, and Bastian did the same. “We’re fine, princess,” Bayleon assured me, nodding toward the palace. “We should probably head back. Your family will start arriving in a few hours.”
Tonight, the Spring Court palace would be filled with my aunts, uncles, and cousins from the other courts. They were here for the Equinox Ball which was due to take place in a couple of days, but they were also here to watch my brother, Kale, and I claim our land. The Land of the Fae was about to gain two new courts and a new king and queen.
Bayleon and Bastian took their places beside me, and we started out of the grove of wisteria trees and up the cherry blossom trail to the back of the palace. Ever since the Winter Solstice Ball, things have been tense between all three of us. I’ve tried keeping my feelings to myself and not letting them show, but it proves more difficult each day. The last thing I wanted to do was come between their bond. They were brothers, and family came above all else. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like my emotions were the only thing causing the tension. I’ve sensed some apprehension from both men for weeks, almost as if they were intentionally keeping something from me.
When we arrived at the entrance at the back of the palace, two of my father’s guards stepped out of the way so we could enter. It was strange to think that tomorrow I would have my own palace and my own guards. So much was about to change.
Chapter2
Lia
“You’re going to be a queen in a couple of hours.” Ember’s sparkling emerald eyes searched mine as she smiled and tilted her head to the side. “What I don’t get is how calm you are right now,” she said, taking a bite of her apricot tea cookie and spilling crumbs in the process. “I would be freaking out.”
I ran my fingertip over the rim of my rose-covered cup and smiled. It felt smooth and cool on my fingers. “I’m ready for it,” I said, staring back at my dearest and closest friend.
Her golden curls shimmered in the sun, only adding to the radiant glow of her skin. Pregnancy suited her. She was a couple of years younger than me which hasn’t helped my situation. The whispered conversations among the elders of the Spring Court have pointed out that I was over thirty, single, and nowhere close to providing an heir. Most of the fae in my land have modernized their thinking, but there were still some stuck in the traditional ways, those who would prefer to shut off all contact with the mortal realm altogether. I enjoyed the human world and so did Ember. It was why I wanted to bring her to our favorite café in France so she could get her beloved warm croissants with strawberry jam before her baby came. I was happy for her but couldn’t help but feel a little envious. She had the life I could only dream about: a perfect mate and a long life of happiness ahead of her.
The warmth I always felt when Bayleon and Bastian were near cascaded over my skin and it made me tremble.
Ember snickered under her breath and shook her head. “They’re here, aren’t they?”
It took all I had not to search around for them.
There were people everywhere walking the streets of Paris and taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower. Bayleon and Bastian could be anywhere.
Bringing my cup to my lips, I finished off the last sip of my chai tea. “It would appear so. But, even when I tell them I’ll be okay, they never let me go anywhere alone.”
Ember’s smile widened. “I understand how you feel. I’m pretty sure Ren is here watching us as well.”
That didn’t surprise me in the least. It didn’t matter if I had a hundred guards escorting us to Paris, Ren would want to ensure his mate and unborn child were safe.
“Oh, I have no doubt,” I teased.
Ember shrugged. “I think it’s sweet Bayleon and Bastian wanted to be your protectors. They’ve been with you now for seven years, right?”
“Yes,” I answered, remembering how excited I was to have them by my side.
For the longest time, they watched over my mother. She was captured by the Tyvar many years ago, but Bayleon and Bastian had released her. I still don’t know what happened, but they had said they were in her debt. That was why they ended up leaving their army and living in the Spring Court. There were so many secrets—secrets I wanted to uncover.
“Do they know how you feel about them?” Ember wondered. “Because it’s obvious they are both in love with you.”
I knew they were; it was what made everything so complicated.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not like anything could come of it anyway. I would never be able to choose. And if I did, it’d cause a rift between them.”
Ember’s smile slowly dissipated. “I’m sorry, Lia. I don’t know what it’s like to love two men. Ren has my whole heart.”
And mine was divided.
Waving a hand in the air, I huffed out a breath. “Okay, enough about this. Let’s talk about something else.”
Ember smirked as she reached for the last croissant and spread the rest of the strawberry jam over the top. Flaky pieces fell onto her belly when she took a bite.
“I can do that. Let me start by saying how ecstatic I am to be moving to your court tomorrow. I trust you’ll make sure I have plenty of tulip magnolias in my yard?”
