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My joy deflated, and I tried to push the thought away. That was something we could deal with another day.
Now, taking you home is something I can get behind. Kieran stood and helped me upright.
Something changed in him, my chest tightening more as he worried. Of course he’d felt the shift in me when I’d thought of Quinley, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment by bringing it up. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to change it.
“Wait.” There was something that still didn’t make sense to me. “If Daniel was put into the tournament to protect you, why did he win the first trial and also finish the second before we made it through the maze?”
Kieran’s brows furrowed. “I hadn’t thought of that. During the first trial, he stayed by my side. When I heard the crowd’s reaction to you catching Ginerva, I spun around and saw you in a precarious situation close to the finish line. He grabbed my arm and dragged me across the line, effectively finishing first. But you’re right. The second trial …”
“I can answer that.” Dallas arched a brow. “He was watching you from a distance, and when you made it past the mirrors and it looked like Curry wouldn’t make it, he finished quickly, likely so no one would suspect why he’d been included in the Comortas.”
My heart ached. Even though the man had tried to kill me, he’d also tried to save my fated mate. I glanced at Nolan. “Thank you for protecting your brother.”
“I wish I could take the credit, but I can’t.” Nolan shrugged. “If I’d done that, Kieran would kill me right now. That was the first thing he asked me about after he took care of you.”
I flinched, remembering all the blood and gore. I glanced down, but I was wearing an elegant pale-pink dress. My stomach clenched.
I bathed and changed you alone, Kieran answered my unspoken question. I just wanted to make you comfortable.
My throat tightened. He’d cleaned me up and ensured I looked the part I was about to play, and he’d changed into formal clothing as well, including a pink cravat that matched my dress.
“If not Nolan, then who?” Orla asked, but I already knew the answer.
Kieran said it before me. “Quinley. She wanted to make sure she became queen.” He laughed bitterly.
That was enough to make me want to get up and face the woman down. Although … maybe, this one time, I didn’t hate her for her decision.
Eager to leave, I stood up. I wobbled a bit, but with Kieran supporting me, the eight of us made our way down to the dining hall.
The members of the High Court were indeed assembled there. They watched as Kieran helped me to the Summer table and into the seat to the right of the one I’d sat in throughout the trial. Orla took the seat I’d been sitting in, and Dallas sat across from me. Prince Nolan sat next to Dallas with Brianne on his other side. Maeve took up her usual station in the corner of the room.
The High Court members scowled from where they’d gathered in the open space where the buffet had sat earlier. Quinley’s scowl was so deep I feared it would be permanent.
Okay, I didn’t fear; I hoped, and maybe that made me a bad person, but I didn’t care. The bitch hadn’t been happy about Kieran returning from the dead or my impromptu speech that so many of the fae had latched on to.
“This is going to warm everything.” Quinley grimaced. “Alina should apologize to the people. Say she spoke from a misplaced sense of heartbreak.”
I snorted, sounding ever so classy. “First off, it was not misplaced.”
“It was even if just for appearances.” She stopped and pointed a finger at me. “You two may be fated mates,” she said the two words like they were garbage, “but he’s my future husband.”
“There’s no way I’d ever—” I started.
Kieran cut me off. “First of all, it’s Princess Alina to you. You may be High Court, but you are not royalty, which brings me to a more important point. You never will be.” He placed our joined hands on the table, making sure they were in view of everyone.
“What?” Quinley’s head jerked back. “You made a promise?—”
“And I died, even after you tried to make sure it didn’t happen.” Kieran smirked. “You know I did because you announced Alina as the winner, and I know I did because I felt my magic drift from my body. I was called back before it had gone too far to return. But my vow to you is null and void, and I will not be making it again. I have someone far more suited to the role I have in mind.” He looked at me, squeezing my hand.
My cheeks hurt, and I realized I was smiling. I tilted my head and winked. At least one good thing came of you dying.
He laughed, the sound unusually carefree, and everyone stared at us.
Brianne leaned forward so she could see Kieran and me and asked, “Can you two speak telepathically? I’ve heard that fated mates can do that.”
I bit my lip as Kieran nodded.
Leanna and Caden glanced at each other while Kaley and Eamon moved to the spot between Dallas and Orla. “Your Majesties, you can’t entertain approving this relationship.”
