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GOLDUN, FALLADA
Jocylene Sanders stood from her bed, pausing as the blood rushed straight to her head. Probably not a good idea to stand straight up after bending forward to lace her boots, but she was in a hurry. Walking on swift feet toward the door offering freedom from the confining chamber, she reached for the knob and opened it. She poked her head through the opening and glanced left and right, searching for any sign of her overbearing mate.
Finding it all clear, she heaved a sigh of relief. Eli meant well, but it had almost been a week since she’d been healed from the venom of a Werewolf bite. She didn’t blame him for being worried, but thought his overprotective ways a bit dramatic. Especially since she felt better than ever after a Fae healing and a few days’ rest. And now, she knew Queen Adrah would be meeting with the Brothers Grimm very soon regarding their next move. With Desdemona held captive by Kalodan in Zenun, and Princess Sonia being hidden away to protect both her and the dragons she had set free from their eggs, she was the only one of Fallada’s royal daughters at hand. The others—Selena and Phaedra—had gone back to the human realm to retrieve Selena’s sister from New York. Jocylene had been in bed, closeted away from everyone else, and had no idea what was going on.
Now that she’d recovered, Jocylene needed to get back in the know, then back into the fray. Things had escalated so far, they had now reached the peak of the prophesy and war. Now, the entire thing had become like a snowball rolling downhill, gaining momentum and speed, as well as size. So much was at stake here, and she didn’t have time to lay around nursing her wound.
Adrah’s Fae servants paused in their tasks as she breezed past them, dropping into bows or curtsies. Nodding and smiling to a few, she continued on her path to Adrah’s throne room, where she liked to hold conferences. If something was going down, it would be happening there.
Turning left, she picked up the pace, practically trotting toward the double doors to the throne room. Just before she could reach out to open one of the doors, a hand clasped around her left wrist. Spun around to face the person who’d grabbed her, Jocylene found herself face-to-face with her mate.
Yellow-gold eyes flashed with annoyance in startling contrast against his tawny brown skin, while the corners of his mouth turned down into a frown. His facial hair had gotten a bit scruffier—likely due to days of worry over her. He looked as if he needed a shave and long nap.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” he snapped, keeping a tight grip on her arm.
Squaring her shoulders, she gave him her most defiant look. “Taking a break from being in bed. My shoulder got bit, Eli, not my leg. I can walk across the palace without hurting myself.”
“It is not your shoulder that concerns me,” he argued. “The poison had coursed its way through your entire body by the time we managed to find a healer strong enough to stop it. You were so weak, you couldn’t stand on your own two feet. Now that it’s been purged, your entire body is need of rest.”
Pulling away from him, she held both arms out to her sides and gestured toward herself. “I’m fine. Fit as ever. The wound is completely healed and I’m not weak anymore. I’ve never felt stronger.”
“Your healer said—”
“I don’t care what they said,” she retorted. “I know my own mind, and my own body. I’m going nuts in bed all day, Eli. There isn’t time for that, anyway. Adrah, my dad, and Uncle Wil are probably in there right now planning our next step. I need to be in there, and it won’t hurt me to just sit in on a conversation.”
Eli rolled his eyes at her. “We both know you won’t just listen in. You’ll offer your input on what should be done next, before volunteering to execute whatever plan is thought up.”
“What’s so bad about that?” she challenged.
“You aren’t ready,” he retorted.
“Stop trying to control my every move!” she spat.
She didn’t want to act like a total bitch to her mate, but days of being cooped up inside had made her stir crazy.
“You almost died in my arms!” he insisted, his voice rising a bit as he took a step closer to her.
Jocylene fell silent, her breath catching in her throat at the raw agony she found in Eli’s stare.
Heaving a deep sigh, he ran a hand over his bearded jaw. “I spent days trying to find you. Each hour that passed, I felt more and more hopeless. I knew you’d been bitten, and I needed to get you to a Fae Healer. I kept telling myself that if you died, it would be my fault because I’m your mate, and it is my job to protect you.”
“Eli,” she whispered, “none of what happened was your fault.”
He shook his head and continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “I found you on the border of Zenun. You were out of your mind and mumbling things I couldn’t understand. When I touched your skin, you were burning up with fever. Reaching for you with our bond, I felt the most tremendous pain ... you were in agony, Joss. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen or felt. I picked you up and got you back here as fast as I could, but the thought struck me that you could die any second and there was nothing I could do to help you.”
Reaching out for him, she took his face in her hands. “It’s over now. I survived, and we’re together again. It’s over, Eli.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he held on tight, as if afraid she could slip through his fingers any second and evaporate into air.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I do not mean to be domineering, but I’ve never been more afraid in my life than when I thought I might lose you.”
Giving him a smile, she leaned forward and kissed him, short and sweet. “I felt the same way when Kalodan tricked me into thinking he had killed you. But we are at war right now, Eli, and I am a warrior as well as a princess. I cannot let Fallada down.”
“My brave little rose,” he replied. “I admire your courage, and your dedication to this fight. Just promise me that you will listen to your body. Rest often and don’t try to take on too much too quickly.”
“Okay,” she relented. “As long as you don’t try to stand in my way when the time comes for me to do my part. I’d much rather have you beside me, anyway.”
Resting his forehead against hers, he grinned, and she felt at ease. Eli’s smile was like the sun breaking out from behind dark clouds. He might grumble and growl like the Panther Shifter he was, but at the heart of it all, he only wanted what was best for her. They kissed, and Eli backed her toward the wall, pressing her against it.
Even though they were in plain sight of anyone who might happen to walk by, she found it easy to forget that with him nibbling hungrily at her lips. She whimpered, sinking into him and running her hands down the bulges of his arms, bared by the black tunic he wore. She traced his tattoos, the black lines inked into the skin of his human form. A low rumble sounded in his chest, his animal side reacting with primal satisfaction.
Pulling away from him, she met his gaze, her pulse racing and her cheeks flushed. “I’m starting to think going back to bed might be a good idea.”
“I thought you wanted to see what might be going on inside the throne room,” he reminded her, even while bending down to kiss her neck.
Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the wall. “Whatever. Dad can give me the bullet points later.”
Before Eli could reply, the sound of a throat being cleared caused Jocylene to stiffen. Her neck flushed and she was sure she blushed with embarrassment at being caught making out with her mate in a hallway. Eli always did know how to make her go all stupid in the head.
Her eyes widened when her mate pulled away, allowing her to see who had stumbled upon them.
He looked as hard and implacable as ever—perhaps even more so. His green eyes pierced her with a bold stare, going dark to fit his ever-changing mood. Sometimes, she knew, they could turn to a shade like mint, with silvery undertones. When he found himself in a good mood—which wasn’t often—they were the color of new blades of spring green grass. A white shirt hung unbuttoned at the top to reveal the silver coin he always wore against his chest, hanging from a bit of leather cord. His hair had grown a bit, the blond strands forever in a tangle of rogue waves.
“Rothatin,” she managed, wincing to find that her voice had come out squeaky and raspy.
Inclining his head, he gave her a stiff bow. “Princess. I do hate to interrupt, but you’re blocking the door.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked, unable to help that her question came out sounding more like an accusation.
Maybe he didn’t do it on purpose, but every time the Fae general appeared back in her life, it spelled trouble—usually between herself and her mate. He’d gone to the human world with Phaedra and Selena. If he was back, then perhaps the mission there had been completed.
Rothatin cast a glance at her mate. “You did not tell her?”
Looking at Eli, she frowned. He was avoiding her gaze.
What is he talking about? she asked him, reaching through their mate’s bond to speak to him without words.
Acting as if he hadn’t heard her, Eli cleared his throat and addressed Rothatin, “She’s been in bed, recovering. I haven’t had the opportunity.”
Wrinkling her brow, she glanced back and forth between the two men. “Tell me what? What’s going on? Is everything okay with Selena and Phaedra? Oh, my God, is it the baby?”
Selena had become pregnant not long after marrying Titus, her mate. It was far too soon for her to have given birth.
“Everyone is fine,” Rothatin assured her. “They remain in the Earth realm, and both Selena and her babe are healthy. We learned that she will have a male child.”
She smiled, happy for Titus. While she knew he would have been happy with a girl, a male heir was needed. Since the death of his father, Titus had taken on the role of Alpha of the Awcan wolf pack of Mollac. He needed a son to become Alpha after he was gone.
“That’s good,” she replied. “That doesn’t explain why you’re here, instead of there with them.”
Glancing back at Eli, Rothatin raised one eyebrow. Eli glared at him, then shifted his gaze back to her.
“When you were bitten, we tried everything,” he said. “Goldun’s most powerful healers worked day and night to cure you, but the poison had progressed too far. None of them could withstand it. So, I went to the Earth realm to find the one person I knew could save you.”
Following his gaze back to Rothatin, she felt her eyes go wide and her mouth fall open.
“You?” she whispered. “You healed me?”
Jocylene remembered very little after Kalodan had released her from his prison, certain she would die from the poison coursing through her body. Sometimes, she dreamt of Eli taking her to a beautiful place—a place filled with trees and the vital earth her soul seemed to crave. Beneath an enormous tree, he had sat with her and held her while she fought to live, telling her how much he loved her. The memory came back to her in pieces, but she could recall feeling more loved than she ever had in her life.
Eli hadn’t mentioned the moment to her, but his concern had been making sure she was well. There hadn’t been much time to speak of what had happened before she’d woken up in her bed in Goldun. Had Rothatin also been there, and she just couldn’t remember it? Thinking of him being nearby during such a moment made her uncomfortable.
“I did,” Rothatin confirmed.
He watched her closely, as if waiting for her to say something.
Clearing her throat, she forced a smile. “Then I owe you my gratitude,” she said. “Thank you.”
His expression shifted ever so slightly. She’d known him long enough to recognize his subtle facial cues—inscrutable as they might seem to others. Her words disappointed him, but for the life of her, she could not figure out why. What else did he want her to say?
“There are no thanks needed,” he replied, his voice remaining even and emotionless. “It is my duty to do my part to ensure the welfare of Fallada’s princesses.”
Eli remained silent, his gaze shuttered. Jocylene shifted, toying with the hem of her tunic as she fought not to run away from the awkward situation. She and Rothatin had only shared a solitary kiss. He had practically thrown her in Eli’s direction before dumping her like a bad habit.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. He hadn’t dumped her, because they’d never really been a thing. They’d never been a thing, because he wouldn’t allow it to happen. Knowing that there had been an attraction between them, her mate disliked Rothatin immensely, and often acted jealous, even though Jocylene had chosen him. She hated moments like this, when she was reminded of their past. Would they ever stop being so damn awkward?
“Yes, well,” Rothatin said, clearing his throat again. “Queen Adrah, your father, and uncle are inside for a meeting. I assume you’re going inside?”
Realizing the three of them still stood there looking at each other like a trio of idiots, she leapt into action.
“Yes, we were just about to go inside.”
Rothatin reached passed her to open the door before her hand could touch it, then gestured for her and Eli to precede him inside. “By all means, let us not keep them waiting any longer.”
He needed to stop staring at her. Rothatin hadn’t seen Jocylene face-to-face since the night he’d healed her. Eli had come to the human world to find him, begging him to return to Fallada and heal Jocylene. Even though the Panther Shifter hated him, he’d swallowed his pride for the sake of his mate. Regardless of knowing a confrontation with Queen Eranna loomed on the horizon, he’d left the fight in the hands of his travel companions, trusting Selena, Gretchen, and Phaedra to handle the threat. His only concern had been Jocylene. Her death would spell the end of the fight against Eranna, as well as the doom of Fallada.
But that wasn’t why he’d save her.
Jocylene’s death would have been the end of him. Even though he’d only rescued her to deliver back into the arms of another male, Rothatin had no regrets. To see her sitting across from him, her skin glowing and her eyes sparking with the fire he knew lived inside of her, made it all worth it. It did not matter that she didn’t love him, and likely never would. Nor did it matter that she belonged to someone else. He loved her, and if being with Eli made her happy, he would stand aside and accept it.
He hadn’t been willing before, certain she had only chosen Eli because he’d rejected her. Yet, once he had taken her away to the woods of Fallada, laying her beneath the tree to heal her wounds, he had taken the opportunity to ensure she’d known he loved her. If she was going to die, he’d wanted her to know the truth. Yet, in the delirium brought on by Werewolf venom, she’d looked at him and seen her mate’s face, confusing him for Eli. The love in her eyes had been unmistakable, slicing into Rothatin’s heart like the sharpest of daggers.
It had been what he needed to finally let her go. He had often been accused of arrogance, and wasn’t stupid enough to deny it. Yes, he was an arrogant male, but that moment with Jocylene had brought him humility. The time had come for him to move forward with his life. This war with Eranna had reached its peak, and soon it would end once and for all. In the aftermath, he would have nothing to call his own—unless he did something about it, starting now.
Blinking, he snapped back to attention, focusing on the meeting that had just begun in Adrah’s throne room. They sat at a small table out on the balcony—Adrah, Wil and Jacob Grimm, Eli, and Jocylene.
“Princess Jocylene,” Adrah was saying as he forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand. “It is good to see you so soon after your harrowing incident. You look well.”
“I feel better than ever,” Jocylene replied with a smile. “Ready to get back into the fight.”
“Much has happened in the weeks since we sent part of our group to the Earth realm,” Adrah continued. “I’d like to take the time to bring everyone up to speed. First, I am happy to inform you all that Selena, Gretchen, Phaedra, Arrian, and Titus have succeeded in thwarting Eranna in her plans to take over New York City. While it would have been a small foothold for her, control over so many people would have inevitably spread like wildfire.”
Rothatin nodded. “Princess Brione—who prefers to be called Gretchen—is strong and capable. I knew she could be trusted to carry out her part of the prophecy while I returned to heal Jocylene.”
“Our girls are strong and courageous,” Jacob Grimm agreed, beaming with pride at his daughter, reaching out to take her hand. “Well done of them.”
“Does this mean Eranna is finished for good?” Eli asked. “You said she was thwarted, but not that she has been killed. What should we expect from her now?”
“The dark queen was dealt quite a blow,” Adrah answered. “Gretchen’s power over lightning, combined with a tidal wave from Phaedra, have rendered her weak. Not powerless, but nowhere near as mighty as before.”
“That is wonderful news!” boomed Wil Grimm with a wide grin. “She is no longer a match for our girls.”
“Perhaps not,” Adrah hedged, her blonde eyebrows furrowed over silvery-green eyes. “However, I would not be so quick to consider her defeated just yet. She will not take this defeat lying down. Even now, she has begun working to restore her power to its former might. Before long, she will be as formidable as ever.”
Jocylene frowned. “How does she rebuild her power?”
Adrah hesitated, glancing down at the table. The others cleared their throats, seeming uncomfortable answering Jocylene’s question. So, Rothatin did what he was known for—responded with bluntness and candor.
“She drains the souls of young, beautiful women,” he stated matter-of-factly. “It feeds her natural abilities and heightens them.”
Jocylene gasped, clapping on hand over her open mouth. She looked away from him as if he were as distasteful to her as the news she’d delivered.
“We can’t let her do that,” she whispered.
“No,” Adrah agreed, “we cannot. However, there is more to be discussed before a plan is laid out. More developments will affect this one, to be sure. You must have the entire scope of this before we act.”
“I assume one of the new developments involves Kalodan,” Jocylene said, a predatory gleam creeping into her eyes at the mention of Rothatin’s younger brother.
Banished from Goldun by Rothatin for dabbling in black magic, Kalodan had become the leader of the Dark Fae army, which had pledged its allegiance to Eranna. He was also Eranna’s lover—which meant she trusted him to act in her stead. After taking Zenun and holding it captive, she had left Kalodan upon her throne, to act out her dark agenda while she spread her reach to the human realm.
“After taking you and your sister captive, Kalodan proceeded to engage in the darkest of magic arts,” Adrah informed them, her voice taking on an ominous tone. “Blood magic.”
Rothatin’s blood ran cold, and as he exchanged glances with the others seated at the table, he found the same terror in their eyes that he experienced. The Fae general was not a man who scared easily, but nothing could send a chill down his spine like the implications of blood magic.
Jocylene—the only person at the table with no notion of what it entailed—scowled. “Would someone care to tell me what blood magic is, and why we care? If he still has Desdemona, then our priority is getting her back. Right?”
“Kalodan no longer has the Phoenix,” Adrah replied. “He does not have her anymore, because he killed her ... slitting her throat and draining her blood.”
Across from him, Jocylene gasped, tears filling her eyes. “Desdemona is dead?”
“Phoenixes always rise from the ashes of their death,” Eli reminded her, reaching out to take her hand and calm her. “She will not stay dead very long.”
“She has already risen,” Adrah confirmed, giving Jocylene a reassuring smile. “After killing her, Kalodan had his servants burn her remains and bury them on the border of Mollac. From there she rose again and took flight, heading straight for Semran Hall.”
Rothatin rose his eyebrows at this, surprised by this development most of all. “She has taken her mother’s castle.”
Adrah’s lips curved into a soft smile. “She has. Just this morning, Princess Desdemona cleared the castle of Eranna’s followers and freed its prisoners. Denouncing her mother’s hold on Mollac, she has named herself queen and now begins her reign.”
Smiling, Jocylene wiped her tears away. “That’s my sister. I knew she would come around someday.”
“We must have a care not to attempt to push her into doing too much too fast,” Wil chimed in. “When we last spoke with Princess Desdemona, she was convinced Queen Adrah meant to use her in the same way her mother has. Like a true Phoenix, she wrestles with her emotions, letting them swing her from one extreme to the next.”
“She might be a bit unstable, but she knows we’re on the side of good here,” Jocylene argued. “I’m confident when the time comes, she’ll stand against her mother and Kalodan.”
“Back to the blood magic business,” Jacob interjected. “What did they do with her blood?”
“Combined it with black magic to create their own Phoenix,” Adrah replied without preamble.
Eli frowned. “Can they do that? I thought a Phoenix was supposed to be a rare creature ... only so many of them have existed in our world, and never more than one at a time. That much power cannot be contained.”
“You are right,” Wil answered. “The power of the Phoenix has always been tied to a male or female, so that a conscience might be applied to the primal urges of the beast within. But, what our queen refers to isn’t that sort of Phoenix, is it my lady?”
Adrah shook her head, her eyes going dark as she sighed. This obviously weighed quite heavily on her.
“No, this creature is a pure Phoenix, with no male or female counterpart,” she declared. “It does not shapeshift, remaining always in bird form. It does not have a conscience or a soul. It takes on the urges and desires of its master. This, combined with the fact that it was born of blood magic, makes this creature incredibly dangerous. What Kalodan intends to do with this creature, we still do not know. But the destruction he could cause with such an abomination will be widespread and devastating.”
“So, it seems obvious to me that getting rid of this blood magic Phoenix is the most important thing right now,” Jocylene offered. “Zenun should be our focus.”
“Perhaps,” Rothatin countered. “However, we cannot ignore Eranna. She will work to regain full power. It will not be long before she receives word that Desdemona has overthrown her, causing her to lose her most powerful stronghold in Fallada. The human world will be forgotten in favor of Mollac. She will return to reclaim her throne, combining her power with those of Kalodan and this Phoenix.”
“We cannot allow it,” Adrah agreed. “Which is why we will, once again, divide our efforts. Rothatin, my general, you will return to the human realm. Your mission there will be twofold. Prevent Eranna from taking the lives of any human women to feed her essence, and obtain from her the Eye of Mollac.”
A frown pulled at the corners of his mouth. “The Eye, my queen? Of what importance is the queen’s magic mirror?”
“It allows her to observe happenings in the realm,” Adrah reminded him. “The loss of her power has also robbed her of her beauty—causing her to become as hideous as the Witches she consorts with. For this reason, she avoids the looking glass, unable to abide her own reflection. However, she will not evade it forever. A need to know how things are progressing in Fallada will drive her to use it, and when she does, she will discover what Desdemona has done and return here. We must prevent that for as long as we can, giving Desdemona more time to gather her forces.”
He nodded. “Of course, my queen. I will do as you direct.”
Nodding with satisfaction, she turned to the others seated at the table. “Eli, you and Malachi Voran will return to Mollac. Desdemona will face opposition from Kalodan once it is discovered that she has taken Semran Hall. Many of Mollac’s people were driven out of their homes ... they should be made to feel safe to return now that Desdemona is queen. You will assist her in any way necessary—including becoming part of her defense should Kalodan attack. I will send five hundred Fae Warriors with you, along with any of Mollac’s shapeshifters who wish to return home. With such large numbers, you’ll be difficult to attack.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Eli replied. “Has Malachi been told about your wishes?”
“Not yet,” Adrah said. “I will leave that to you. Now that his son is safe here, I think you’ll find him amenable to returning to Mollac. He assured me that he is prepared to do his part in the fight for Fallada.”
Clearing her throat loudly, Jocylene stood. “Um, hello? Warrior princess sitting right here. Are you guys benching me?”
Rothatin suppressed a chuckle. He did not quite know what ‘benching’ was, but he did recognize her frustration over potentially being left behind.
“You will remain here with your father and uncle,” Adrah said with an amused smirk. “We do not know yet what Kalodan intends to do with the Phoenix created by blood magic, but I will need you to lead a force to mobilize against him in the event he strikes some place other than Mollac.”
“And if he strikes Mollac?” she challenged. “Am I supposed to just sit around doing nothing while everyone else fights?”
“When the time comes, if Mollac falls under attack, we will ensure you can join the fight,” Adrah assured her, maintaining her patient, even tone of voice. “Meanwhile, we must consider other vulnerable places he might attack. The mines of Skel’gar, the forests, the Elf kingdom of Inador, the Southern realm of Damu.”
“Fine,” Jocylene conceded grudgingly. “But as soon as he makes a move, I want my chance to take a crack at him. I have a bone to pick with that asshole.”
So did Rothatin, and he would much rather remain here and go after Kalodan himself than return to the human realm. Yet, Adrah had given her orders and he would obey. He could only pray to the gods that when the time came for Kalodan to face justice for what he’d done to Desdemona and Jocylene, he could at least be there to see the life drained from him.
“I suppose that is all for now,” Wil stated, standing and stretching his arms with a groan.
“Wait,” Rothatin said suddenly. “What of Princess Sonia and her dragon eggs? I heard when I returned that they’d hatched.”
Adrah glanced about the room, her eyes darting as if she tried to determine whether someone could be listening in. Odd. The queen was generally very trusting of the servants in her household.
“Three eggs hatched,” she informed them, lowering her voice to a whisper. “A sand serpent, a fire-breather, and an earth wyvern. A sea serpent, we believe, remains unhatched in the fourth egg.”
“That is wonderful news,” Jacob murmured, his eyes wide behind the rims of his spectacles.
A scholar, Jacob Grimm must be excited by the prospect of being able to document and study dragons—which had not existed in Fallada for hundreds of years.
“Well, where are the little beasts?” Wil asked, rubbing his hands together in excitement.
“Hidden away,” Adrah informed them. “Not long after they hatched, a trusted servant of my own household attempted to steal one.”
Rothatin felt his eyes grow wide. “By the gods ... the servants of Osbel Tower should be among the purest of souls! There hasn’t been treachery within these walls in ... well, I do not know how long.”
Meeting his gaze, Adrah nodded, her expression becoming mournful. “That is what made his treachery all the more hurtful. It should not have surprised me, General. A creature so rare and precious as a dragon could turn even the most incorruptible heart greedy. The dragons are not safe—not all together, and not here. So, I’ve sent Princess Sonia and her brothers away from Goldun in order to keep them safe. No one knows where they have gone—not even myself. In this way, we cannot inadvertently allow anyone to discover where they are. It is the best way to secure them.”
“By letting Sonia out of Goldun, we put her at risk,” Rothatin reminded her.
It was not his way to speak against his queen, but not knowing where Sonia might be left him uneasy. The youngest of the royal daughters, she had yet to come into her powers. Despite the fact that her four brothers were fierce fighters, Rothatin would have rather protected her himself.
“I am willing to take the chance,” Adrah countered. “Besides, caring for the dragons is a part of Sonia’s destiny. I have seen her future. I believe this path is the right one for her.”
Bowing his head, Rothatin relented to Adrah’s wisdom. If she believed that, then so did he.
“I do believe we can end our meeting now,” the queen declared. “General, you should rest before returning to the Earth realm.”
Avoiding the glances of the others, Rothatin cleared his throat. “Actually, I had hoped to speak with you alone, Your Majesty.”
Nodding, she stood and waved the others away imperiously. “Very well. Please escort yourselves out. Eli, you and Malachi should leave for Mollac at first light. The Fae warriors I promised will be prepared to escort you.”
Executing a swift bow, Eli then took Jocylene’s hand. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Jocylene followed her mate without a glance back, with Wil and Jacob hot on their heels.
Now alone with Adrah, he experienced anxiety over the conversation to come. He had been planning this ever since he’d realized the time had come for him to let go of his foolish notions concerning Jocylene. In order to move forward, he must consult the one woman who had always remained constant in his life.
“Come, General,” she said. “Tell me what is on your mind.”
Facing her, he clasped his hands behind his back. “Your Majesty has been very patient with me through the years ... allowing me to become accustomed to my role as general, and trusting me to make the right decisions.”
“Of course, General,” she replied. “After the final war with the humans—before we closed off our world from theirs—the fate of the realm rested upon our shoulders. From that time until now, you have served me well, both on the battlefield, and as a close advisor. You have made me proud.”
Nodding, he took her compliment in stride. He was glad to hear it, but could not lose sight of why he’d asked her for an audience.
“I have been remiss in my duties in only one way,” he declared. “Through marriage and the siring of an heir to carry on my legacy as general.”
Reaching out, Adrah placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. “I have been content to allow you to search for love, Rothatin. Marriage and children should not be the burdens of duty. They should be the joys of your life.”
A tight vise gripped his chest at the thought of the woman he wanted to marry and have children with. She was as far out of his reach as a star from a human. Unattainable.
“I appreciate that you want those things for me,” he replied. “However, I have made my selection of a bride. All that remains is for you to grant me permission to pursue her, and I will see it done.”
Her eyebrows lifted as if in surprise, and for the first time since he’d known her, Queen Adrah seemed genuinely shocked.
“You’ve chosen a bride?” she asked. “Pray tell, who might this fortunate woman be?”
“En’im,” he replied, naming one of his captains.
A loyal soldier and amiable companion, En’im would do. Kind and graceful, while a warrior like himself, she had all the qualities he might desire in a wife. She would understand the pressures settled upon his shoulders as General of the Fae Army. As well, he would be able to trust her, just as he trusted her with his life on the battlefield.
“An interesting choice,” Adrah said, without giving a hint to her thoughts one way or the other. “In the history of Fallada, no general has ever married a fellow soldier.”
“En’im is also descended from royalty on her mother’s side,” he reminded her. “This would ensure the bloodline remains pure. En’im and I are fellow soldiers, but we are also friends. I believe we could get on well together.”
Coming closer, she reached up to cup his face in both hands. The soothing balm of her touch sank into his skin, bringing him a brief respite from the pain eating him up inside.
“My general,” she whispered. “What a noble sacrifice you have made.”
He frowned. “I do not know what you mean.”
Inclining her head, she released him. “But I think you do. You could have had so much more.”
“It is too late for what might have been,” he countered. “There only remains what is, and what will be. I must wed and sire an heir. This war will end soon, and I am looking ahead ... to what I will accomplish after.”
With a nod, Adrah smiled. However, it seemed forced and not at all like her. It almost seemed as if she mourned his decision.
“I trust you to decide what is best,” she said. “If En’im accepts you, then I give you both my blessing.”
Relief flooded him, and he exhaled with a rush. He’d had no contingency plan in place for her refusal. Bowing at the waist, he inclined his head.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Promise you will be happy, Rothatin,” she urged, taking his hands. “Promise me.”
Forcing a smile, he nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
She nodded and smiled back at him, but he could tell she still worried for him. Pulling away from her hold, he left the room.
Promise me you’ll be happy.
Her words haunted him as he retreated to his home—the place where he lived alone.
Happy? Perhaps not. Content? Yes, he could be content.
It was all that remained for him.