It was taking too long.
My hands clasped behind my back, a heavy knot settled at the bottom of my gut, and each step grew heavy as I paced outside the door. I’d never been shoved away in the past, and now it took all my willpower not to break down the door.
She would be fine. She was the chosen queen.
She had to be fine.
Shortly after Lilianna came to Etta as my wife, mere days after Vidon was laid to rest, she endured the förändra ritual as planned. Her life would be the same as Night Folk fae. We had too many hundreds of turns left to live.
She had to be bleeding fine.
Dagar cleared his throat. “My King. Perhaps we could, uh, pace less. Seems to be unsettling some very important people.”
My friend’s voice dragged me from the haze of my worry. Even with the title of king for nearly fifteen turns, I stumbled when I heard it now and again.
I glanced over my shoulder. My first knight cradled a small girl in his arms. She stared at me with glossy, dark eyes heavy with tears as she clung to her patchwork quilt.
The boy peeked out from behind my friend’s thick leg. His hair was dark around the points of his ears, and tousled from a day of play. Unlike his sister, there weren’t tears in those blue eyes—his mother’s eyes—but his chin quivered.
I forced a smile and went to my two children, ashamed I’d forgotten they were watching my every move, and were entirely too aware their daj was frightened for their mother.
“Herja,” I said, taking my daughter in my arms. “You, little princess, should be sleeping.”
Only three turns old, she burrowed her face in my neck, clung to my shoulders, and wrapped her little legs around my waist as best she could. The girl’s auburn curls were wild around her head, but fit the fiery spirit the gods gave her.
I opened one free arm and signaled to my son to come to me. His chin quivered again, but he sprinted to me, clinging to my leg with a shuddering breath.
“Sol,” I whispered. “All will be well. I didn’t mean to upset you both.”
“I want Maj,” the boy whimpered.
“I know.” I rubbed a hand over his back, holding him to me. “Soon. We’ll be able to go in soon.”
The words came more for me than my son. Dagar clapped a hand on my shoulder, probably sensing the truth of it. He smiled and lowered into a crouch in front of Sol.
“Sun Prince,” he said, using his finger to tilt the boy’s chin. “What do you say, you and Herja come sleep at our longhouse. I think we could even convince Kjell to allow Torsten to come.”
My cowardly friend got the nerve to confess his feelings to Agnes after witnessing the devotion of Lilianna that day in Timoran.
Kjell and Agnes took vows not a turn later and now had a son the same age as my boy.
Sol’s eyes brightened. “In Halvar’s room? With his, with his new stilt bed!”
“Yes, but no jumping from the top.” Dagar said with a laugh when Sol let out a disappointed huff. Already the boys were destined to cause a bit of mischief. “In the morning Sasha promised to make those scones you love—if you boys help her.”
“I will!” Sol said, releasing my leg.
I tilt my head. “Dag—”
“Think nothing of it,” he interrupted, and gently took Herja out of my hands. “We were already prepared for this. Besides, you know how much Sasha dotes on the princess. I fear I’m still a disappointment to my wife for failing to give her a daughter.”
I laughed. Sasha was fierce and handled her pack of five sons better than the strongest knights.
Dagar’s smile faded once he had my children arranged to leave the palace. He gripped my arm. “It will be well, my friend. You’ll send word, right?”
I choked on my own voice, but managed to nod and clasp his forearm.
When I was alone the fears set in. What was taking so bleeding long? Why was no one coming to tell me anything?
Alone, I went to one of the windows. A crescent moon hung in the velvet night. If my mother were here, she’d say it was a sign of good fortune from the gods. Hells, I hoped she was right. I did not pray to the gods often, but I did tonight. Head bowed, I leaned over the windowsill, and pleaded for my queen. My friend, my lover.
I pleaded for my entire heart, for that was Lilianna.
She held all of me, from my weaknesses to my strengths, I wished to devote it all to her. This night would not be the end. I raked my fingers through my hair, lowering to a crouch when standing became too taxing. It took so many turns for us to have Sol, to lose her now . . .
I shook my head. No. I refused to think it. Lilianna was gods-blessed, a queen meant to heal two lands, but she was more than all of it. She was mine and I needed her more than any kingdom, more than any crown.
At the creak of hinge, I snapped my head up.
“My King.” A healer, clad in pale robes, bowed her head. “Come in, please.”
“The queen?” I had no time to be ashamed of the tremble in my voice; already I quickened my pace beside the woman until I reached the room.
At the door, I hesitated. Not a sound came from the bed chamber. There should be sounds. Cries. A bleeding whisper. Anything. Please let all be well. Gods, please.
“Arvad?”
I let out a raw breath. Lilianna’s voice was weak, and soft, and alive. I pressed a hand to my heart, afraid it might burst through my chest, and hurried inside.
The room was rife in oils and herbs. A hint of smoke perfumed the air from incense, but in the four-post bed was my queen. Lilianna’s long golden hair hung over her shoulders, sweat on her brow, face paler than normal. But she smiled, clinging to a wrapped bundle in her arms.
I ignored the shuffling women who busied around the room, and nearly fell over the edge of the bed, simply desperate to touch her.
“Lil,” I breathed out. “I didn’t know . . . when they sent me out, I—”
She silenced me with a gentle kiss, and touched her fingertips to my lips. “I know. There were moments when I didn’t know how it all would end either.”
I kissed her brow, her cheek, her neck, memorizing every inch of her face all over again. She smiled when I let my forehead fall to hers.
“I’d like to introduce you,” she whispered. I blinked through the burn in my eyes as she adjusted so the bundle faced me. “We have a new son, My King.”
A choked laugh burst from my throat. The child was beautiful. Dark hair, skin a soft brown, and wrinkled, tapered ears. Night Folk.
I beamed at my wife as she gently handed our son over. Lilianna rested her head on my shoulder when I settled against the pillows of our bed.
“You amaze me, Little Huntress,” I whispered. “He is perfect, like his mother.”
Lilianna sniffled, and clung to my arm. “He will be the last, Arvad. There were too many complications, and the healer, he made certain there would not be any more young ones.”
Hurt softened her voice. A life of survival, with only her and Vidon for so long, had left Lilianna with the desire to fill the halls of this castle with a dozen children. A place filled with endless love and laughter and playmates for her littles.
I kissed the top of her head. “Lil, my heart would be full if it were only you and me. That you have given us three, beautiful children—there is nothing more I could ever want.”
She kissed my shoulder, and touched the tiny nose of our boy. “What shall we call him?”
“He is strong.” I studied the sleeping babe, smiling when a dribble of milk came from the corner of his lips, utterly at ease. “He was born under a crescent moon.”
“Ah,” Lilianna said, fatigue climbing in her words. “A sign of luck.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“A night prince. The Night Prince.”
I smiled. Sol was named the Sun Prince as a symbol of hope for Etta and our neighbors. “The Night Prince. What was the name you mentioned from a story you read with Sol? The one about the warrior?”
“Valen. Yes, I think it was Valen.”
I studied the child again. “His brother is destined for the crown, but our Night Prince is strong. Like his mother, he fought to be here tonight. A warrior’s name seems fitting.”
I felt her smile against my arm. “Valen. I like it.”
“And we should name him after his grandfather. His Timoran roots ought to be known.”
She drew in a sharp breath, then whispered, “Valen Krigare Ferus. The Night Prince.”
Lilianna tilted her head, her eyes wet when she met my gaze. I kissed her softly, smiling when Valen whimpered in my arms.
The Norns at the base of the tree, cruel as they could be, had blessed us tonight.
* * *
“Daj look!” Sol shouted from a window. In the distance sails with jörmungandr, the great sea serpent printed on the square came into view.
I ruffled Sol’s messy dark hair. “Hurry, then. Our friends are beginning to arrive.”
Sol started to run away, but I called him back.
“Oh, Sol,” I said, resting my hands on his skinny shoulders. “You, Torsten, and Halvar will behave, yes? No stealing the baby again?”
Sol huffed. “Daaaaj. Tor said takin’ him outside would help Val get his fury faster.”
“Oh really? That’s interesting because Kjell insisted Torsten told him that is exactly what you said.”
My oldest, rather unimpressed with his brother, son blanched. “Thought it would. Honest.”
I chuckled, ruffling his hair again. “You’ll need to get along with the Night Prince someday, my boy. Go on. If you three behave, I’ll save you all extra honey cakes.”
Sol squealed his delight and sprinted down the corridor.
After two months, at last, the Night Prince would be presented to distant kingdoms. My stomach tightened. Unlike my other two children, for Valen, we received a missive from a seer in the Western Kingdom. A woman believed to be a speaker of fate. She insisted on coming and delivering a message to the royal family.
I didn’t entirely trust the Norns, even if they had been good to me as of late, and part of me dreaded whatever the seer had to say.
Within the hour the great hall was packed wall to wall with our friends, our people, and our visiting guests. Lilianna rocked Valen in her arms behind the curtain, shielding us from the crowd. “Arvad, did you . . . did you see him?”
I let out a long sigh. “I haven’t.”
Another missive arrived earlier. One with a Timoran seal. After all these turns, Eli desired to speak long-awaited words to the Queen of Etta.
I would keep my vow—the bastard would only beg for forgiveness on his damn knees.
Lilianna’s lips pinched into a tight line. “It doesn’t matter. This day is not for him anyway.”
She beamed at Valen and kissed the tuft of dark hair.
King Eli of Timoran was a fool. His father passed away not long after my mother and father, causing both of us to ascend as kings as subtle enemies.
Eli harbored resentment and anyone a hundred paces from the man could see it. In the early turns of our vows, Eli would send private missives to Lili, begging her to return, to serve her people.
After so many refusals, the missives stopped being delivered to the queen and came to Kjell. As the royal advisor, Kjell would pass on the Timoran king’s requests for more goods, and subtle threats on to us with altered words.
The man was a thorn in my side and was more of a stubborn, prideful bleeding king than his father before him.
When the hall hushed, I took Lilianna’s hand, took a deep breath, and together we stepped onto the royal dais.
Applause greeted us, growing louder as Lili raised Valen, so the crowd could see him better.
“You honor us,” I said. “You honor our new son, and it is our pleasure to present the new Night Prince of Etta, Valen Krigare Ferus.”
With the cheers and sincere pleasure rising to the rafters of the hall, my nerves dulled in my chest. For today, there was peace between the lands.
A woman stepped forward after the crowds quieted. Her face was carved in age, but her eyes were the brightest green and gave away an inner youth.
“Your majesties,” she said with the tilt of her chin. “I am Greta, a storyteller of fate if you will. I have come from the west with a message I think you will be most interested to hear.”
I held my breath, but nodded, a hint for the woman to go on.
Kjell raised his voice. “Friends of Etta, this seer has a blessing of fate to deliver to the Night Prince.”
I didn’t miss the underlying threat in his voice when he looked at the woman. Kjell was warning the woman to deliver something that would not upset this fragile bit of peace this day.
Greta touched a crooked finger to Valen’s brow. “It is a simple message, but powerful. You, Queen Lilianna and King Arvad, have been blessed with three young souls. Three gifts of the Norns who pluck the strings of our destiny. What I have seen, I make known this day. Through the Ferus line will come the rebirth of magic each kingdom will someday need. Through the Sun Prince will come cleverness. Through the young princess will come a powerful voice.”
A rumble of agreement rose from the crowd as Greta stepped closer to Lilianna, her eyes trained on my son.
She softened her voice. “And for this new prince. Much like his parents before him, he will endure pain, hardship, suffering—”
“Stop,” Lilianna said, clutching Valen tighter against her body.
The old woman held up a hand. “But with his trials will come a love with the strength to heal the scars between two worlds.”
My chest tightened. I dropped my eyes to my infant son. “Timoran.”
I doubted anyone but Lilianna and the seer woman heard me. My wife looked at me with tears in her eyes, but a slight curl of a smile on her lips.
The seer grinned and raised her voice, so others could hear plainly. “Through your house and a house of an enemy, healing for all lands, all magics across the kingdoms—from sea to earth—will be had. Your boy here, will begin the tales of fate.”
The crowd offered pleasant applause, entertained by the strange woman.
Greta smiled at the sleeping infant. “No matter what may come, take heart in the blessings of your young ones and the paths they will take for the sake of us all.”
“What are you talking—”
She cut me off by spinning on her heel and . . . leaving us. What was I supposed to take from her last word?
“Arvad,” Lilianna whispered, “what do you suppose she means?”
I draped an arm around her shoulder. “I don’t know. Perhaps she’s mad.”
“And what if she’s not?”
I looked at my wife, smiling. “Then we take heart. As she said. Our children our blessed by fate.”
Lilianna mirrored my smile, and followed me through the curtain as Valen’s eyes fluttered close. I didn’t leave her, wanting to be close to her after nearly losing her, and frankly, I didn’t want to speak politics with so many foreign leaders in one room.
But in the hallway we weren’t alone.
“What a blessed day.”
One fist clenched at my side as Eli stepped from behind a pillar. He swirled a drinking horn, and smirked.
“Eli,” Lilianna said.
The Timoran king tipped the horn to his lips. “I could not miss such a joyous occasion.”
“Yet the boy is our third child,” I said dryly. “I don’t recall seeing you at the others.”
Eli clicked his tongue. “Matters of state, I’m afraid. And, of course, tensions were still so . . . raw.”
“You mean tensions because you ended the life of my father and tried to kill my husband?” Lilianna said, voice rough and low.
Eli hummed, disregarding the accusation. As he always did. His eyes dropped to Valen. “Hmm. Sturdy boy. Fae, I see.”
“Expected. Since his father is Night Folk,” Lilianna said defensively.
“Yes. He is.” Eli took another drink, then wiped his lips with the back of his sleeve. “I’ve missed you, Lili. I think it is time to let the past die.”
“Think it all you want,” I snapped. “Until you plead for her mercy, the past burns in the front of our minds.”
Eli sneered at me, then turned back to my wife. “You look half starved. I heard it was quite a terrible experience bringing the new fae into the world. Your people prayed for you.”
I’d like to hit Eli, right in the mouth, but no doubt the worm would declare war. Perhaps slit his throat. If I had not instilled the tenuous peace at the request of my mother before she died, I’d go assassinate the bastard myself.
“If you’ll excuse us,” I said. “The child must be fed, and the queen would like to rest.”
“I won’t be staying long,” Eli said. “In fact, I’ve come to tell you this will be the final time I shall come to your kingdom.”
He stared at my wife, a longing in his eyes, but a strange heat too. Something close to hate. “I heard your witch in there. The declarations for the Ferus line. Impressive.” Eli leaned closer, voice harsh and dark. “But let me add my own twist of fate. I have come to the conclusion, after all our suffering the folk of Etta are no allies of Timoran. Be it known, my people will not suffer much longer.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Speak plainly, King.”
“I plan to.” Eli lifted his pale eyes to me. “Before my life slips into Otherworld, understand Fae King, I will wear that crown on your head.”
Lilianna drew in a sharp breath. “Eli, stop. You signed treaties of peace.”
“And they stand. Until they no longer satisfy.” His lip curled. “Mark me, Etta will belong to Timoran.”
“Do your worst,” I snarled. “We have fury, the gods’ blessings, and a warm, well-fed army.”
“For now.” The Timoran king stepped back toward the corridor. “It could be one turn from now, or many, but it will come to pass. I do hope you keep a sharp eye over your shoulder Fae King. I am coming for you and your . . . promising posterity.”
“It is one thing to speak pointless threats to me, but you threaten my children, or my wife, and I will end you.” Fury burned in my palms; glass shattered as vines from outside the palace lunged to answer the call of my magic.
Eli paled, but recovered quickly.
“No need for that.” He tipped his head at Lili. “Until we meet again.”
I hugged Lilianna tightly against my side and watched him leave. My blood heated, and were it not for Lilianna’s soft voice, I would’ve demanded Dagar go after the bastard, possibly to discreetly stage an accident on his journey back through the pass.
“Arvad,” she said, her lips brushing my ear. “Let him rot in his bitterness.”
I looked to her. “How can you say that? He threatened you, us. He will not stop until he has you.”
“I do not know him anymore.” She kissed the hinge of my jaw. “What I do know is three other foreign kingdoms are here to celebrate our name, and a woman who speaks for fate has blessed our children greatly. Who is Eli to speak differently?”
I sighed and pulled her against me, careful not to wake Valen in her arms. “Should he breathe near our borders, I take his head, Lil. I’ve been dreaming of it for turns.”
She snickered and lifted her gaze to mine. “Would you like to know something else I know?”
“What?”
“Sol is wholly entertained with his playmates, Herja is being spoiled sour by Sasha, and Valen is sleeping soundly. I think, my love, I would very much like to spend a few solitary moments with you. In less clothing, ideally.”
My smile couldn’t be contained. I kissed her, deeply. A hunger behind it.
When I pulled back, my breaths were heavy as I rested my forehead against hers. “Whatever you wish, my queen, I will be more than happy to give it. Always.”
* * *
Lilianna and Arvad are part of the Broken Kingdoms and Ever Seas world. If you’d like to dive into the main series, maybe learn a bit about that prophecy from the speaker of fate, you can begin with Curse of Shadows and Thorns.