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“Sir. It’s here.”
“Perfect timing. Meet in the square in thirty minutes?” The king stood, and Lily followed him as he left, casting a quick smile back at the room.
“What was that about?” Raven asked.
“The amulets. Each Fae had to give up their ruling item to do the ritual. However, because it weakens the ruler to no longer have it, they’ve stayed behind to protect their people from a potential attack. Which is a shame, really, as I think you’d like some of the others.” Bianca stood from the table. She looked well suited for battle today, with dark pants, a fitted coat, and heavy boots on her feet. “I need to retrieve Kellen’s mother’s ring from the magicks room, as well as the translation, and we should be ready to go.”
“I have to admit, it’s a lot to take in.” Raven turned to Kellen. “Amulets. Rituals. Dark realms.”
“Fated mates.” Kellen grinned when Raven narrowed her eyes.
What was she going to do about him? Had the man completely lost his mind? They’d known each other less than a week, and he’d gone and pledged himself to her like…a maniac. An absolute maniac. And if she didn’t claim him back then he was going to die? What kind of nonsense was that? Like she was supposed to know what she wanted for the rest of her life? Raven’s whole life had been spent living day-to-day, and now Kellen was expecting her to just decide on her entire future. Her glare deepened as Kellen’s grin widened.
“I don’t like you very much right now,” Raven said.
“I think you’re lying. I think you like me more than you’re willing to admit, and it scares you. But that’s okay. I’m fine with giving you time.”
“You don’t have time though. You told me that last night. If I don’t claim you back, you die.” Just saying the words out loud infuriated her. She didn’t want Kellen to die. She just didn’t know if she wanted a future with him either. Raven was caught between a rock and a hard place and wasn’t the least bit pleased about it. Whirling, she glared at Seamus who was doing his best to pretend he wasn’t still in the room.
“Is that true? The whole fated mates thing? If I don’t claim him back, or whatever, he’ll die?” Raven asked.
“Yes, that’s the way of it. Not immediately of course, it’s kind of like a wasting disease. See, when fated mates claim each other, their magicks grow stronger. Incredibly so. But, everyone could just run around trying to claim each other as fated mates in order to get power, which is why the Fae long ago concocted the built-in safeguard. While many Fae do crave more power, they certainly don’t at the expense of their lives.”
“That makes zero sense,” Raven argued. “If two people fake claim each other, then they aren’t really fated mates. So why would they get power?”
“Because sometimes a fated mate bond can grow after the fact.”
“Then they would just deserve the power anyway, right? By your rules?”
“Not my rules.” Seamus laughed. “But no, they wouldn’t deserve the power if they entered into the pact for nefarious reasons.”
“So he’s just going to waste away unless I claim him. Can he take it back?” Raven asked.
“There’s methods, yes,” Seamus admitted, smiling when Kellen shook his head at him. “Sorry, man, I’m not going to lie to her.”
“Take it back.” Raven whirled on him. “I can’t make this decision when I’ve only known you a week.”
“It’s not happening. You’ll get used to the idea. Just think…you can actually be Queen Raven.” With that, Kellen stood and crossed to where another guard had entered the room. After a quick conferral, he motioned to them both. “We’re ready.”
“Are we though? I feel like there’s a lot more to discuss,” Raven grumbled. But she stood, Seamus following her out, and they made their way to the square. Raven noticed what a drastic difference there was in the atmosphere this morning. Where last night had almost lent itself to a celebration of sorts, today they were greeted with a sea of somber faces. Immediately, Raven lifted her head and began to scan the crowd, searching for anything amiss. Now wasn’t the time to become complacent, she reminded herself. Just because she had a team to work with didn’t mean she should stop looking out for her own safety.
A guard brought out a gold cauldron and set it on a table on the stage, and Raven’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. If that thing was solid gold, she could only imagine the price it could fetch on the streets. Callum came out next, a gold circlet on his head, and for the first time she really saw him as the king when the entire crowd bowed respectfully. She’d forgotten for a while that he was king of all the Fae, instead thinking of him more like someone to pal around with a bit. She needed to be more careful there, because her mouth could often get her into trouble with those in positions of authority.
“Come with me,” Kellen said at her ear, sliding an arm through hers. “I want to keep you close so I’m not worried about you while we’re focusing on the ritual.”
“I’m not sure I should be up there,” Raven hissed, digging in her heels as he pulled her toward the platform where she’d sung from the depths of her soul the night before.
“Of course you should. You’re my…” Kellen grinned when Raven rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the gut. They climbed the platform together, and though Raven tried to hang back, Kellen moved her firmly in front of him. For a guy that had been so hands off before, it seemed he took great joy in dragging her all over the place now. Shecertainlydidn’t plan on telling him that a very small part of her liked it when he manhandled her this way.
“Wait! Halt!” a voice shouted, before the ritual began. Confusion rippled through the crowd, and Raven tensed.
“Father?” Kellen asked, concern in his voice. Worry for hisfather, Raven noted, but not for himself. She didn’t like this. Not one bit. Turning, she grabbed Kellen’s elbow.
“Careful, Kellen. I don’t trust him,” Raven murmured, and Kellen glanced down at her.
“He’s my father.”
Raven pressed her lips together, stopping any other comments she wanted to make. She didn’t come from a place of expertise when it came to the inner workings of familial relationships. If Kellen trusted his father, then she had to honor that.
