Page 90 of Fae Mates

“But where’s Helen?” I asked. “She can’t have escaped the Dark Fae Prison on her own.”

“Perhaps someone else rescued her,” said Prince Bradwell.

“Or she didn’t survive,” said Prince Rory.

I shook my head. “Helen once told me that she could read destinies but never mentioned suffering a grisly death. I think she’s out there somewhere, needing our help.”

Prince Caulden’s hand rubbed comforting circles over my back. “Let’s not speculate until we consult with a seeing hag.”

We reached Pokeweed and Mistress Ellyllon, who dipped into a deep curtsey. The indigo-skinned faerie wore a cloak that looked like it had been woven from the midnight sky.

She rose, her eyes dancing with joy. “Queen Unity, I am pleased that you fulfilled the destiny gifted to you by Prince Lugh.”

I blinked. “Do you have the sight? You knew all about me when I first visited your tower.”

Her laugh sounded like tinkling bells. “The wards tell me everything that occurs in the academy.”

I would have asked why she didn’t do anything about the four brothers falling under the Duke of Nevermore’s spell, but Prince August asked, “Where is Gala?”

Her face split into a grin that rivaled the Jack of Smiles. “She’s conceiving a king in the shade of the largest sycamore tree.”

“What on earth does that mean?” I glanced over my shoulder to check that her mating scent hadn’t ensnared Prince Rory, but he was still there, as were my other mates.

“Let’s find her.” Pokeweed launched himself into the sky and disappeared around the nearest tower with Mistress Ellyllon flying after him.

I gave my wings an experimental flap and rose six feet off the ground. Prince August flew at my side and laughed. “You’ve improved.”

I laughed back. “That’s the benefit of all that mating. It unlocked my full powers.”

The other princes flew at my sides, their wings glowing in the light of the rising sun. I flew across the courtyard, around the tower, and over the academy’s manicured gardens, keeping the two figures ahead of me in sight. Pokeweed and Mistress Ellyllon continued to the patch of forest close to the location of the life-water and swooped down.

As I landed, a small, furry figure darted out in front of me and jumped into my arms. Trembling, McVittie gazed up at me through wide, yellow eyes. “Unity!”

“Isn’t that the seeing hag’s cat?” asked Prince Caulden.

McVittie was so agitated, he didn’t bother to correct the prince that he was a person and not a possession. “Something terrible has happened.”

I stared down at the cat and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

He pointed his paw toward a huge sycamore tree with a trunk twice as thick as the palace’s double doors. “Don’t go.”

“Why?” asked Prince August. “What’s out there?”

“You don’t want to know!” McVittie yowled.

“Should I warn Pokeweed?”

“It’s too late,” said McVittie. “He’s already gone.”

The cat was right. Pokeweed and Mistress Ellyllon had already disappeared around the tree. Prince August broke into a run, followed by Prince Rory, who withdrew his sword.

“Stay here.” Prince Caulden placed his arm around my waist, and Prince Bradwell also unsheathed his sword. “I’ll erect a barrier of ice.”

A shocked huff escaped my lungs. “But I want to—”

“What kind of mate doesn’t protect his queen?” said Prince Bradwell.

McVitte blinked. “Queen?” He shifted within my grip and raised his head. “You got crowned already?”