Page 35 of Treasured By the Fae Royal
Gods, I could pound her all over again. But I won’t. Not yet. Not until she’s had adequate time to recover.
She emits a soft sigh and gives me a fatigued but contented look, and I move to her side and then gather her in my arms. I hold her close and stroke my hands through her hair. She sighs again and leans into my touch.
I kiss her cheek and nuzzle her face. “Wife.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “Husband.”
CHAPTER19
YVETTE
I standon the balcony of the tower, staring across the never-ending forest. I appreciate that the balcony faces the forest and doesn’t have a view of Sorsston or any other hint of civilization. It makes me feel like Lucas and I are the last two people in the realm, and it also helps me forget about the war that will likely rage for years, if not decades or longer.
Lifting my face to the sky, I soak up the warmth of the sun. It’s midday, though Lucas is still sleeping. Or, finally sleeping. We’d stayed up until early morning. Talking, snuggling, and making love. Heat flows through me and an ache pangs in my core when I recall all the intimacies we’ve shared thus far.
I glance over my shoulder and smile at the sight of my husband sprawled in the bed. His chest rises and falls steadily, and he looks so peaceful in sleep that it nearly brings tears to my eyes. I return to the bedroom and approach him, keeping my footfalls light so I don’t wake him. My heart brims with affection as I stare down at the handsome fae prince I now call husband.
Husband. My pulse quickens.
I like using that word, and I like it when he calls me ‘wife.’ It fills me with warmth and makes me hopeful for our future.
Speaking of our future, I still haven’t decided where we should live, though I’ll admit I’m stunned that he’s leaving it up to me. Last night after our final round of lovemaking, we’d discussed all our options, everything from a grand new house on the edge of the Summer Court to a cottage of our own in the human territories.
The only thing I know for certain is that I wouldn’t want to live in Aunt Heather’s cottage. I adore both my aunt and my mother, but as a newly married woman, I want plenty of privacy with my husband and I know he feels the same. But maybe we could build a house near my aunt’s place. Yes, that’s certainly a possibility.
I sigh and remind myself that I don’t have to reach a decision today. I have time.Wehave time. Gods, we’re both going to live for thousands of years.
I slowly climb into bed next to Lucas. He peeks one eye open, gives me a sleepy smile, and drapes an arm around me. He pulls me snug against his body, and a warm summer breeze drifts over us, making it unnecessary to get beneath the covers.
“I was dreaming about you, sweetling.” He presses a kiss to my temple, and I burrow deeper in his arms.
“Oh?” I trail a hand over his muscular chest, admiring the way the light from the sconces dances over his golden flesh. The fire has long burned out, but given his summer heat, we don’t quite need it. “What happened in your dream?”
A faraway look enters his eyes, and the barest hint of a smile pulls at his lips. “I dreamed we were walking through the ruins of the Summer Court, thousands of years from now. The ruins were lovely and overgrown with flowering trees and vines. We were holding hands, and our children were with us. Our grown children. Five of them, if you can believe it, which is a huge number of offspring for my people to have. We were showing them the old court. That’s it. That’s the dream. It was… pleasant. Gods, you looked the same as you do now. Young and beautiful with your dark hair flowing down to your waist.”
I smile as I try to picture his dream in my head. Though I’ve never visited the Summer Court, or any fae court, I’ve read enough books and heard enough stories to give me a fairly good idea of what each fae court looks like. It’s said the Summer Court is a sprawling city with white, stone buildings that contain colorful roofs. I can easily imagine us walking through the ruins of the white, stone buildings, but it’s difficult to picture five adult children. Gods, what if his dream comes true?
“Mira has told me that fae couples don’t have a lot of children. Usually just one or two, and there’s a huge span of years between the births.” I continue running my fingers over his chest. “Do you really think it’s possible we could have five children?”
“My parents had three children,” he says in a thoughtful tone. “Some of my distant family members have been rather fruitful, now that I think about it. Did you know Warden Valloc’s father has three brothers? So, perhaps we will have a large family.” He smooths a hand through my hair and sits up against the pillows, bringing me with him and arranging my head to rest on his chest, directly over his beating heart.
Five children. I suppose only time will tell, and in our case, it might be a long time. It’s still shocking to me that most fae siblings have hundreds of years between them. Shocking and perhaps a bit sad since those siblings can’t grow up together like human children usually can.
“How long will we stay here in the tower?” I ask.
“At least a week, sweetling, if that suits you.” He kisses the top of my head, then draws his fingers through my long locks. “Sometime in the near future, we must visit the Summer Court so I might introduce you to my parents, and my brothers too if they are in court, though it’s very likely that they’re off in the human lands now looking for brides of their own.”
My stomach does a little flip, but I remind myself that I’m safe with Lucas. The idea of visiting a fae court is more than a little unnerving, but he won’t let anything or anyone hurt me. I trust him, and it’s comforting to know the Summer Court isn’t as crowded as it once was. The regular faefolk have been migrating into the human and orc lands, following the spread of ussha, for several years now.
“We won’t stay in the Summer Court for long,” he adds in a reassuring tone, as though sensing my disquiet. “Not unless you wish to linger.”
I peek up at him and drum my fingers on his chest. “What will be expected of me in the Summer Court? Will I have to attend any events in the palace during our visit?” I think of the stories I’ve heard about the fae dancing for days upon days at palace parties, lost in trances of magic. I also think about the stories of the fae forcing humans to dance into exhaustion or even death, and I suppress a shiver. I know nothing like that would happen to me, but I certainly don’t want to witness any cruelty visited upon my own people while I’m there. It’s no secret that there are human slaves in all four fae courts. Orc slaves, too.
“You won’t have to attend any events in the palace, sweetling. In fact, I would prefer it if you didn’t. But I will arrange for you to meet my parents in a quiet setting. Perhaps over dinner one night.” He falls silent and a look of concern mars his visage. “It’s my hope that my brothers aren’t there. I don’t think you would like them very much.Idon’t like them very much.”
“Do you think your brothers are upset that your father has ordered them to marry humans?” I can’t help but worry that his brothers might mistreat their human wives. Though Lucas hasn’t told me much about them, I’ve gotten the sense that they’re very…fae. Cruel and scheming. Violent.
“Yes, I’m sure they are furious, but they will also follow his orders. If they haven’t already taken human wives, they will soon.” He glances out the window as a small flock of birds dives in front of the balcony before swooping upward into the clouds. “They will likely try to wed human princesses, and I doubt they will care if the females are willing or if their families approve. May the gods have mercy on their poor brides.”
