Chapter Twenty-Nine

Salome

Nevin and I hurried from the balcony to Gareth’s room, where one of the guards stood vigil over him.

“How is he?” I asked, hurrying to Gareth’s bedside.

“Hanging on, Your Highness. But his heart grows weaker. The elders stopped in to see him for a moment and they were surprised to find him still with us. He’s a fighter—”

I sucked in a deep breath. We were running out of time. If we were going to do this, it had to be now.

Nevin scooched in next to me. “Jacob, you can leave us now.”

The guard bowed and slipped out of the room. Nevin turned to me. He looked as nervous as I felt. “Are you ready?”

“I-I think so. Just tell me what I need to do.” Nerves twisted in and out of my belly like a whirlpool. My heart collided with my ribcage.

“You must place one hand on Gareth and give me your other one. Together, we will call upon the powers of Summer to heal him. You must open your mind to receive the magic. Stay focused, for it is easy for a new user to burn themselves out on it.”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath.

Nevin clasped my hand then laid his palm flat against Gareth’s chest, just above his wound. Trembling and praying this worked, I placed my fingers right above Nevin’s on Gareth’s skin.

“Listen to my words, Salome. Repeat them. Embrace them. And feel them,” Nevin said. “As King and Queen of Summer, we call upon the power of our land—upon the essence of life—to heal one of our own. Use us as your instruments. Let whatever your will be, happen.”

I repeated the words in my head, clutching tight to Nevin. Warm tingles vibrated beneath my feet, racing up my legs and chest and through my arms, until beams of golden light flowed like a stream from my fingertips.

Gareth gasped, then his body shook violently, making the bed move beneath him. Fear embraced me, but I felt Nevin squeeze my hand tighter.

“Focus, Salome. Don’t lose sight of what you want.”

What I wanted was to have Gareth healed. I needed him. I did as Nevin said and focused harder. Gareth twitched and tossed, until I saw a dark cloud explode from his wound. In that moment, Nevin released my hand and shot a sun shaped orb from his hand, which hit the blackened mass in midair. I watched the thing that’d come from Gareth be devoured by the light until it no longer remained.

Gareth gasped again, and this time, his eyes flew open, and he sucked in a deep lungful of air, as if he’d just emerged from a lake.

“Salome.” His voice sounded gravelly as he reached for me. His arms gripped hold of me and he pressed me against his sweaty body. His fingers traced over my face.

My heart leapt into my throat. Like a warm blanket, I felt him in my mind, filling me with his presence.

He went still, his gaze landing on the tattoo—Summer’s Mark. Then I felt his rage, swarming me like a nest of angry hornets. For someone just moments before on the verge of death, he moved super-fast as he leapt from the bed, eyes narrowed.

“What the fuck did you do?” Gareth stalked toward Nevin. In one swift movement, he clutched Nevin by his tunic, dragging him away from the side of the bed and slamming him against the wall.

“Need I remind you that I’m your king?” Nevin shoved him back.

“And apparently my betrothed is now your queen—

“Oh God, Gareth—I didn’t betray you. Summer marked me before your return.” Tears burned my eyes. “You were injured and the elders told us you wouldn’t make it. We tried everything to heal you, but it wouldn’t work.”

He glared at me. “So you married him?”

“Nevin said there was a chance that if I took the throne as Summer Queen and answered the marking that our powers together would be able to heal you. I had to take the chance to save you… You have to believe me when I say that I did this because I love you, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

He turned his brown eyes on me. “I know you would never do something like that to me. But he would, after everything I’ve done for him.” He glared at Nevin. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it? To take her from me?” His fist connected with the wall.

Nevin glowered. “No, it wasn’t. When she chose you, I was okay with it. I had every intention of letting you have your happily ever after. But things changed when I found out she had magic. Look at her head, Gareth. Look at the tattoo. She’s been marked by Summer. She was meant to be our queen. If it’s any consolation, I don’t love her. But I do need her…as does our kingdom. And if she hadn’t become queen to save you, you’d have died. She did this just as much for you as she did for our kingdom.”

I caught Gareth’s eye. “I felt your pain when you first got injured—then you didn’t answer me when I called to you. Do you understand the hell I went through? Watching you come back to Summer on the back of a horse, practically dead?”

“I’m sorry. We got ambushed, and I was injured. I, and a few other soldiers, took refuge in the mountains so I could heal, but if I would’ve known this would happen, I would’ve found a way to get back sooner.”

My legs shook beneath me. “I will not let you make me feel bad for saving you. Yes, this wasn’t the perfect option to do so, but I did it out of love.”

Nevin glanced at Gareth. “I didn’t do this to be selfish or heartless. I did this for Faerie. Do you think I liked betraying the trust of one of my closest friends and most loyal warriors? Because I didn’t. My job is to protect the kingdom, and I have to do it by any means necessary. And I needed you to be here, alive, to help us fight the battle against Winter just as much as I needed Salome as my queen.”

Gareth hit the wall again. “She was mine, Nevin. And I was hers.”

Nevin ran a hand through his hair, his brow knit with worry. “I know. But I screwed up once, and it nearly cost me my kingdom. I couldn’t take another chance. Gareth, you know I gave up the love of my life in order to protect our people. He died, and I couldn’t even save him. I wasn’t about to let the same happen to you and Salome. Yes, I need her. But it wasn’t me I was looking out for. It was our people.”

Gareth shook his head. “I just need a few minutes to absorb all this. Please leave.” He opened his door, ushering us out.

Tears stung my eyes as I stormed to my room and buried my head in my hands. I hated seeing the hurt on his face—but he had to know I loved him. Couldn’t he feel it through our bond? And yes, I knew Nevin’s intent since I’d arrived in Summer was to make me his queen, but I honestly didn’t think he’d use Gareth as a vice to get me to agree to this. He wasn’t doing this to seduce me.

But was it possible he had some other ulterior motive?

Moments later, Nevin swept into my chambers. “Salome, listen, I’m truly sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt. That wasn’t my intention. Just let me handle Gareth, okay? This was my idea and my doing.”

“Would you stop telling me what to do? Let me take part of the blame—because, you know, I was the one who said yes. I could’ve told you to screw off or told you I didn’t want to be queen.” I glared.

His shoulders sagged, but he grabbed hold of my arm and led me onto the balcony. “I didn’t go about this the right way, but I needed you. They needed you.” He pointed to the kingdom below. “Winter is spreading, Salome. And I meant it when I told you I trusted no one else to become my queen. Please believe me.”

“Ever since we met, you’ve manipulated me into doing stuff for you. First in the human world when you pretended to care about me so I’d break your damn curse, with the way you used magic to make me think I loved you. But this, I don’t believe you did this to be malicious. For once, I think you actually tried to do the right thing.”

He took my hand in his, uncurling my fingers. “My caring about you was never a lie—as far as people go, you’re probably one of the few I can tolerate. And I doubt I’ll ever be able to express how sorry I am for bringing you into this. But I don’t regret you ruling by my side. You were meant to do it.”

I stared at my hands then turned to him. “I want to be alone for a while.”

He nodded. “I’ll be in my chambers if you wish to speak later.”

When he left, I went back inside. “Darach? Are you here?”

He appeared next to me, his face hardened. “Yes.”

“Gareth is alive,” I said.

“Yes, I heard. I was in his room when he came to.”

My throat constricted. “What am I supposed to do now? Gareth was so angry.”

“Maybe you should ask him.” Darach nodded as Gareth came into my room.

“Nevin’s assigned me as your new guard,” Gareth said. “Gwenn will still help out when needed.”

He remained quiet for long moments then he gripped hold of my arm as he spun me to face him, opening his mind to me.

“Do you know what kind of hell I’ve been through—cut off from you?” he asked.

“You? I thought you were going to die. I agonized over you—not a moment went by that I didn’t miss you or think of you.”

“I know, Salome,” he whispered. His fingers traced my face. “I didn’t dare reach out to you because I didn’t want you to know how injured I was. For that I’m sorry. If I could take back all of this, I would. I’ve missed you so much.”

I blinked back tears as my hand covered his. “What are we supposed to do now? Can I get out of being queen?”

He frowned. “Only through death.”

“Then I’m stuck with Nevin?”

“No—you’re stuck being our queen. It doesn’t mean you have to be his,” he growled.

“I wasn’t ready to be thrown into this position. I agreed to it because I needed to save you and I wanted to avenge you. Avenge the people of Summer who’ve been hurt by Winter. I’m only eighteen, for God’s sake. Not to mention, human.” Tears streaked down my cheeks.

“And powerful,” he finished for me. “Our people love you and they rally, united for the first time in centuries, all because of you.”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

He stroked my hair. Warmth traveled through our bond, ensnaring me like a tidal wave of heat. “I know. You don’t know how pissed off I am right now. Pissed that Nevin went behind my back after you’d already told him no and we agreed that he’d let you be. Pissed that Nevin has any type of claim over you—even if it isn’t built on love or intimacy, I don’t like it. But at the same time, I can’t deny what’s in front of my face. You’ve been marked by Summer. Salome, I love you, and I’ll be yours until the end of time, but I think you were meant to be our queen.”

He leaned closer, his lips capturing mine. His mouth parted mine; his tongue traced inside it. His hands slipped down to my waist, pulling me against him like a suit of armor.

It’d been so long since I’d felt his touch—felt his lips upon mine. Heat raced through me like a horse on a track, and I clung tight to him, taking in his familiar scent and letting his warmth wash over me.

Breathless, I pulled back. “What do we do now?”

“You can have a consort. It’s not exactly what I had in mind when I brought you here, but I’ll settle for it as long as we can be together. And Nevin will know that you’re physically off limits to him.”

Heat raced to my cheeks. “Are you sure you can live with that?”

His mahogany eyes took me in. “Yes. When I bonded with you in the human world, I took my vows very seriously. Nothing will tear us a part. Not death. Not some idiot king making you his queen.”

“Do you think Nevin will be okay with this?” My teeth grazed my bottom lip.

“I don’t give a shit what he thinks. He’s the one who broke my confidence—he made you queen. Yes, he helped save my life, and I owe you both for that. But if he won’t agree to our terms, then I’ll take you back to the human world right now.”

My lips twitched. “Didn’t you just say I couldn’t get out of this queen gig?”

“Yes, but I’d move the world to be with you—even if it means becoming an enemy of Faerie to do it.”

I nodded. “Then he either accepts our deal or we’re gone.”

“Do you want me to send Gwenn to get him?” Gareth released me.

“Yeah.”

Gareth poked his head out the door to where his sister stood guard. He whispered something to her and she disappeared down the hallway.

A moment later Nevin came into my room. He eyed us, running a hand through his hair, his eyes downcast. “I said I was sorry. And I meant it.”

“I know.” And I did. His people meant everything to him. “You did what you had to do. We both did. And I will remain your queen. Our people need us. But I do have a few stipulations.”

He glanced at me, giving me a wary look. “Such as?”

“I won’t consummate our joining or marriage or whatever this is. There will be nothing physical between us.”

“Understood.”

“And I want to be with Gareth.”

Nevin closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, then opened his eyes again. “Fine, but it will have to be in secret. If the council believes our joining to be a farce, they will try to have me removed. The kingdom and the council must believe we are together. You will have to attend public functions with me. Gareth has been assigned as your guard so he can be near you, and once night falls, he may come to your chambers as long as you’re discreet.”

“Gareth?” I glanced at him, wondering if this would be okay.

“I’m agreeable to this as long as you are. This isn’t my ideal choice, but given that you are marked, I don’t want to take you away from Summer—nor do I want to lose you. And be assured, tonight, Nevin and I are going to have a very long talk.”

“Just be careful, he is your king, and I don’t need you getting imprisoned for killing him.”

“We’re gonna have words, that’s all.”

At last I looked at Nevin, who stood silent, watching us. “It looks as though I’m still your queen.”

Hesitant, he took several small steps toward me. When I didn’t back away, he hugged me. “Someday, I’ll make this up to you.”

“There’s nothing to make up for. We both have a duty to the kingdom and to Faerie.”

“I know.” He released me and gave Gareth an uneasy glance. “Tomorrow, Salome might need to move into my chambers.”

“The hell she will.” Gareth fingered the sword at his side.

“For show, Gareth. I don’t mean to bed her. There is a secret passage that runs between our rooms, so she doesn’t have to sleep in there. But I can’t take any chances.”

Damn, Nevin just kept dropping one bomb after another. Soon I wouldn’t be able to keep Gareth from kicking his ass.

“It’s fine. We’ll make it work,” I said, coming to stand between them.

“Salome?” Gareth fixed me with his gaze. “Are you sure about this?”

“We don’t need anyone to doubt I’m the queen.”

“I’ll let the servants know that your things will need to be moved soon.” Nevin gave my arm one last squeeze then left the room.

When the door shut, I bit my tongue. This wasn’t how I’d pictured my life in Faerie would be.

Gareth gave me a sad smile, and I rushed into his arms. “Please stay with me tonight. I—I just need someone to hold me.”

He brushed tendrils of hair from my face. “I’ll stay as long as you need me.”

My head fell against this shoulder. He felt so solid—so real. I lifted my cheek and stared into dark brown eyes. His thumb traced my jaw, and when I didn’t pull back, he leaned down, his warm breath fanning against my face, sending sparks shooting like stars down my spine.

Tonight, I didn’t care if I overstepped any boundaries. After everything I’d been through, I wanted to feel something other than hurt and pain. I tilted my head.

“Salome?” Gareth’s thoughts trickled into mine.

I stood on my tiptoes, snaking my arms around his shoulders. Not needing anymore prodding, his lips caught mine. A burst of heat simmered inside as he sucked on my bottom lip before letting his tongue dart inside my mouth. He tasted of apples and pomegranate wine and everything sweet. His fingers tangled in my hair as he pressed me closer. He seemed to consume me, like a forest fire. His kiss deepened and warmth coursed through my belly, spreading until I felt as though we were falling into one another.

Breathless, I pulled back, amazed to see the golden glow forming around us. He raised our entwined hands watching tiny looping flashes of light wind through them.

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.”

But the tender look he gave me made me realize that things were about to get a whole lot more complicated. I was seriously beginning to think I’d become a character in a paranormal romance book.

I was the Summer Queen, whose king happened to be my ex-boyfriend. My “boyfriend” was now my guard, and he had given me permission to be my ex’s queen. Oh, and I also had an invisible best friend that no one else but me could see. So yeah…things were crazy.