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Bastian grabbed my other one. “And we live our lives together."
“What about your men?” I questioned.
Bayleon hung his head. “They aren’t going to be a problem. All the ones Diawen created recently are dead. Though”—he looked up at me, giving a small glimmer of hope—“the others said that if we ever found a way to break the curse, they would join us in the Blossom Court.”
My heart overflowed with pride but quickly vanished when I remembered that Diawen had gotten away and our chance of finding a cure was gone.
“Maybe one day,” I uttered, holding onto some faith.
I couldn’t give up hope . . . not yet.
Chapter23
Lia
One Week Later
The news of what happened between Diawen, the Tyvar, and my men and I had traveled quickly through all the courts and the elvish kingdom. Secrets that had once been hidden were now known by all the fae. Diawen was dangerous, and I knew she would not come to our land willingly; it was to her advantage for me to search for her in the mortal realm, where I was more vulnerable. I didn’t care what I had to do; Iwasgoing to find her. The only problem was that Bayleon and Bastian didn’t want me to continue the search, not after what happened. But giving up wasn’t an option. A fire was burning within me to break the curse and I couldn’t let the fire die down. I wanted Bayleon and Bastian as my true mates, to be bonded in marriage; I wanted them to be the kings of my court. None of that was going to be possible until I freed them. The Land of the Fae wasn’t going to let me bond with them without their curse gone.
As the sun set, casting a deep purple hue across the sky and turning shades of pink and orange in its wake, Bayleon and Bastian joined me on the balcony. They were still wearing their warrior gear, but their masks were off, illuminating their midnight-blue eyes.
“You’ve been out here for an hour. What are you thinking about?” Bastian asked.
I smiled at both of my men and then turned my attention back to the setting sun in the distance. “I was thinking about today,” I said, snickering under my breath. “While you two were training with our warriors, I had a visitor.”
Bastian came up to my left and Bayleon to my right, the combined heat from their bodies melting into me like a cozy quilt.
“What did Fawn want?” Bayleon asked.
I stared at him in surprise. “How did you know it was Fawn?”
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’m one of your protectors, my queen. I know everything that goes on in this court.”
My stomach twisted uneasily at the reminder; soon, I would have to leave them all behind to embark on a quest for Diawen, but now wasn’t the time to think about such things. The joy inside me was too strong and I grinned as I turned away from the setting sun and leaned against the balcony railing to get a better view of both Bastian and Bayleon. My heart swelled just looking at them; they were true treasures, mine to love and cherish forever.
“As you know,” I began, “I owed Fawn two favors for helping me out before, right? Well, she came to me today to ask for one of them. And let me tell you, her request totally took me by surprise.”
Bastian raised an eyebrow and cocked his head in curiosity. “I’m intrigued. What did she want?”
“She asked if I could grow a bigger tree in their village for her sister, Fiona,” I explained. “She’s about to have a baby and Fawn thought a larger home would make Fiona and her mate happier. I thought it was really sweet.”
Bastian smiled sadly, his eyes far away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Bastian looked over at Bayleon before turning back to me. “Nothing. Just memories.”
Bayleon sighed heavily and stepped closer to Bastian, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I remember too, brother.” He turned toward me and reached out with his free hand, taking both of mine in his grasp. His touch sent tingles racing up my arm, setting my skin alight with warmth. “Our mother used to make things grow all the time with her earth magic; we loved watching her do so.”
Bastian nodded slowly in agreement, his eyes still distant. “And I always used to wish I could do the same thing she did—that I had those powers, too.” He stepped closer to me and gazed into my eyes pleadingly. “I’ve always envied your people, Lia. I would give anything to be able to do what you do.”
My heart ached as I placed one of my hands on his cheek, feeling the stubble beneath my fingertips. “You’re perfect the way you are,” I whispered reassuringly. “You make me happy—both of you do.”
Interlocking our fingers together, I pulled them both toward the door, allowing the warmth from our connected hands to flow through us like electricity.
“Now let me show you both how happy you make me.”
Keeping them satiated made them strong; if I couldn’t find a way to break the curse, then at least I could give them moments of joy whenever possible. Until then . . .
