Page 44 of Maleen

“Do you need me?” Nero asks, catching the violent thoughts.

I sigh. “No, just annoyed. How does everything look out there?”

“People are celebrating. From conversations I’ve glimpsed, only an heir of the queen could have unlocked the barrier. They’ve been waiting for you. It seems you are still loved here, Rav.”

I swallow the emotion. “And how about around the city, Vasari?”

Her presence seems longing but she quickly hides the emotion. “All is clear…”

“What’s wrong?” I push.

She sighs in a way only a queenly dragon could. “If you must know, I was hoping to find a clue of my mother. But there is nothing. Not even a scale. The Keep is nice though; let me know if you need anything. My mates and I are going to feast. We saw a delicious-looking flock of sheep nearby.” She cuts off the bond and I rub my chest. We will get you answers too, I silently promise her.

A shocked gasp startles me back into the present. “I’m so sorry Consort Talyn. That was very unprofessional of me. I’ve just never seen scarring so bad. The mark is there, although greyed out… it hasn’t been completed?” she questions, turning her head towards me.

“His scars are beautiful. They show he’s a survivor, and they are nothing to be shocked at. I would hope in the future you mind your expressions.”

She dips into a curtsey again. “You’re right, Your Majesty. It’s just we haven’t seen any injury like this since before the barrier went up. I will do better.”

Now I feel slightly bad for chastising her. If only she saw my back… In fact two of my mates still haven’t, and I know they are going to have to find out sooner than later, but that’s something to worry about when I’m not in the middle of proving said mates’ innocence.

I can’t seem to help myself as my eyes roam Talyn’s muscular form, hard lines and all male. Even though I wish he never had to experience what he went through to get those scars, I can’t help but react to his beautiful body with heat curling in my stomach. It’s right then I realize that I want to bond to him. He is mine. And even though he treated me like crap, I know it was the cursed magick of the Soul Stone—that even though we still have things to work through, I want to make him officially mine.

“Seems to me like the bonds are real, Sir Geoffrey. I do not need to view any more as it would be rude to do this to our Queen. Especially if the other—”

“Enough, fine. Thank you,” he rubs his head, defeated.

My brow raises. ‘The other…’ what?

Before I can ask, Geoffrey continues, “I apologize for my skepticism. But as you know, mate bonds haven’t existed in quite some time. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t under any Szellemi influence.” He eyes Jesper who hasn’t taken his eyes off me.

“My mind is my own,” I state. “But we really need to discuss things before nightfall. If you can call in the others, I wish to get this done with no more delays; we have been traveling for a while and would like to get some rest before we have to be up again fighting.”

“Of course,” he mutters, dipping into a small bow.

Aemon slips into my mind, “I’m not sure what to think of him…”

“Me either. We will just keep an eye on him. Although, I’m pretty sure my mother’s magick would have kicked him out if he meant any true harm.”

He sighs, reaching for my hand as we take our seats at the head of the table, exactly where my parents sat. “You’re right. It’s just been a long day. That’s all.”

Once everyone finds their seats, we begin updating them on everything that has happened since they’ve been shut out from the realm and, most importantly, on our plan to protect the city from wraiths.

BY THE END of our tale, leaving the more personal part of our stories out, their faces are pale with horror and fear.

One of the female warriors speaks out. “We have been training to aid you once you came back. Your mother left instructions that only her heir would be able to free us, yet it wasn’t supposed to be until you were ready to take the throne and the realm was at peace. Which always pissed me off a bit, if I may be honest. A lot of the warriors here have been trained under the tutelage of some of the greatest warriors in the elite guard that didn’t perish during those dark few days. I would be honoured to help you bring the kingdom back to its former glory.”

I shake my head. “No, not its former glory. Better. I want to see my mother’s plan come to fruition. Where every fae is equal and Nulls aren’t treated as servants. But that can be discussed later. Is there anything else I need to know before I adjourn this meeting?”

Sir Geoffrey clears his throat, his cantankerous personality fading after he listened to our debrief. “There is one more matter you should be aware of, Your Majesty.”

The ominous tone of his words has me sitting straighter in my seat as I wait for what feels like forever, preparing myself for a metaphorical boot to drop.

He nods his head and five others stand, looking nervous, including the one female warrior who spoke earlier. “We didn’t yet tell you the true reason for your mother putting up the barrier.” I hold my breath as he continues. “The Galallaus fae were not completely wiped out as the rest of the realm believes. When the attacks on your bloodline started, Queen Calantha did everything she could to hide them here. So after the castle was attacked, she did what we thought was her final act to protect the fae. You are not alone, Princess Maeven. Your fae type has survived.”

I stare at the others who are staring at me with glistening eyes. My mother saved the Galallaus fae? Words evade me as a tear escapes and I hastily wipe it away. “How many?” I manage to whisper.

The female who spoke up before smiles. “There are fifty of us, Your Majesty. Seven of them are only fledglings.”