I’m okay, and you don’t need to apologize. I suppose if I’m to live among your people, I will have to get used to such grand displays of vengeance and brutality.
He’ll never hurt you again, and neither will anyone else. I’ll maim anyone who dares to try.
Tristan wraps an arm around me and leads me to the ussha-blessed forest. It’s startling how vibrant the glowing vegetation has become in the forests surrounding Sorsston during the last few months. It would seem the spread of ussha continues at a rapid pace, and soon the entire realm will be ruled over by the fae.
We walk along a well-worn path that I suppose hunters use, and eventually we come to a clearing that contains hundreds if not thousands of glimmering flowers in a variety of colors. The sight is so beautiful, it takes my breath away.
“All right, what now?” I ask, turning to stare at my soon-to-be mate. Unless he decides not to claim me. My stomach tightens at the thought. The truth is, despite all that’s happened, I want him to claim me. I’m starting to realize just how much I want to belong to him. But not as a war prize.
He gazes at the field of ussha-blessed flowers, then he lifts a hand and the air buzzes with summer magic. Wait, no, it’sSpring Court magiche’s using. He’s using the powers he inherited from his mother’s side of the family.
He waves a hand, and one of the glimmering blue flowers suddenly starts growing, and it doesn’t stop until it’s nearly as tall as me. He turns to me and gestures at the meadow.
It’s your turn, sweet human. Try to influence plant growth.
What? I’m not fae. How could I ever hope to influence plant growth?
He stares at me intently. “I realize you aren’t fae, but you’re able to walk through powerful wards as though they are nothing. Just like I can. I suspect that you’ve tapped into my magic. I suspect you’re an usshan.”
“An usshan?”
“Yes, an usshan. Usshans are humans, or orcs, who can tap into the magic of their fae mates. I heard stories about such humans and orcs when I was a child, though I’ve never met one before. It would reason, if that’s what you are, you should be able to do almost anything magical of which I’m capable. It’s possible you might even manage to summon wings one day, though I doubt that would occur until long after we’ve consummated our mating union and you gain more experience using fae magic.”
My mouth falls open and I stare at him in wonderment. Could it be true? Could I be an usshan? Why are my palms suddenly tingling? I take a deep breath and gaze at the meadow.
Mimicking his earlier movements, I lift a hand and aim it toward an area that’s filled with sparkling purple flowers. Iconcentrate on the smallest flower in the bunch, wishing it were taller and thicker, wishing it would grow as high as Tristan’s flower.
My entire arm tingles and a slight vibration runs through my body, taking me aback. Oh, gods, is it working? I stare at the flower, still willing it to grow. The idea of being able to not only influence plant growth, but to perform other amazing feats with the use of fae magic, is thrilling indeed.
At last, the small purple flower shoots upward. It grows and grows, and it doesn’t stop until it’s as tall as Tristan’s flower, just as I’d hoped.
Stunned, I turn to look at my fated mate.
Mate. If I’m able to influence plant growth, then it means he’s truly my fated mate and I’ve tapped into his fae powers. Because I’m an usshan.
He smiles, guides me into the middle of the meadow, then pulls me close. He waves a hand and the flowers directly around us grow taller than us, giving us plenty of privacy. My heart races. Is this it? Is this the moment he’s going to claim me?
“No, sweet human,” he says gently, and his eyes gleam with reverence as he peers down at me, “this is the moment I’m going to kiss you. Finally.”
He clutches my face and presses his lips to mine.
CHAPTER 26
TRISTAN
An usshan.Not only is Amelia my mate, but she’s an usshan. I resolve that once the situation in Sorsston is sorted, I will take a leave of absence from the army so we can spend time together undisturbed. Fuck, maybe I’ll even retire from my posting as general. If King Haratt doesn’t understand, he can go fuck himself.
But I must spend time teaching Amelia how to use her fae magic. She’s only aware of a tenth of what I’m capable of. She has no idea I can glare at someone’s throat and cause them to choke to death, or that I can glamour someone into telling the truth or even into killing themselves. Yes, I will have to give her proper instruction to make sure she doesn’t inadvertently harm someone. She would never forgive herself if that happened.
As I guide her toward my tent, my spirits sink at the sight of my commanders. Gods, what do they want? Oh, right. I’m still the fucking general and they must need my guidance about something. Or perhaps they’re bringing news from the castle.
I send Amelia a wave of affection and reassurance, then usher her inside the tent. As I approach my commanders, I emit waves of dominance that make some of them cower. I don’t want any of them to suspect I’m considering retirement from the army. I don’t want any of them to believe I’m weak or giving up.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m not giving anything of real value up. Instead, I’m gaining a treasure. I’m gaining Amelia. Usshan or not, she’s not cut out for life in a war camp. I can only imagine the heartbreak she would feel the next time the Summer Court army attacked a human city and slaughtered thousands. I must get her away from the brutality of my people, away from the brutality of my former life.
I almost snort. My former life. I’m already thinking of my time as general as though it’s in the past. That’s how certain I am that the best course of action is whisking my fated mate to a safe, peaceful location where we might build a life together.
Perhaps we’ll settle in Giarrla, the same fae settlement that Prince Lucas and Yvette recently moved to. As far as I know, the prince is the only highborn fae living in Giarrla, and the town is predominately occupied by regular faefolk who possess very few powers. But it’s a mostly peaceful area, and if another highborn fae—me—moves there, Giarrla will be safer than ever before.
