Chapter 68

Chapter68
“It’s not that simple.” Elm says, sitting forward. “She is my queen, their queen. I can not simple declare she isnotbt for the roleandrai her out”
“Why not?” Iask,baffled that her actions aren’t enough for her to be completely cut off by her kind. “She has chosen a war on the oppositesideofyour people.”
“Because there are laws and stipulations to think about,” He says, growing more irate by the second.
“You can bypassallofthose,Elm Hyacinthsays,abored frown on her lips. He snaps his eyes in her direction, anger simmering there. Sheplacesher hands on her hips, readying herself for any verbal assault be flings her way.
“You are second guessing your side, Merikh whispers. Elm looks away, clearing his throat before he rubs his temple.
“No, no, that’s not i…” He says after a pregnant pause that has my heart pounding and my mind swirling.
Is he changing his mind? Does he love his traitorous queen so much that he would rather reposition himself and his kind against us in this war? I move toward him, myeyestrained on his face, trying to determine if I can trustathing he says now. After that hesitation, the way he is refusing to inform his community about what has happened and how she is evil.
“Then explain it, Elm.”I say firmly, stopping in front of him.
“Love is not something Fae look for or really care about in relationships.ButI love her. Still, after all of this, I want my Lilyback. I want to knowwhatmade her do it, whatwaspromised. Without her title, she is no longer protected. If I declare her a traitor now, there will be no answers as Fae kill on sight for sins of betrayal. Hesays, his eyes watery but notearsfall.
“She did it because she is a selfish bitch who has always only cared about herself. She saw the opportunity to getwhatshe wants, and sheistakingit,” Hyacinth scoffs as she rolls her eyes. “You are the only fool that didn’t see her for what she is.”
“Everyone leave,” I say, a wave of exhaustion rising above my head, drowning me in irritability and the need to just sleep this nightmare off. All this shit, the feelings Elm is feeling for his mate, who turns out to be just like my ex. It’s sickening. It brings up a past “me” that I hated. One whowasaslave to someone who wished to only use me.
“You have always disliked her, I know that, but the people accepted her. The Fae have always loved her and treated her well.” Elm says. clearly not hearing me.
“You loved a version of her no one else knew, because she was faking itforyou.” I groan, moving on the bed.
“How do you know that?” He asks, snorting like I’m the dumb one in the conversation. Clearly, he is not seeing thingswithan open
mind.
“It is easier to fake it for one person than it is forawhole slew of them. Take it from one betrayed king to another. She used you foraccessto the power a royal is given. How the hell else would she be able to use these abilities at the magnitude that she has?” I tell
him.
“He makes a fair point,” Coletteadds. “Who else doyouknow who can possess an entirepackat the same time?”
“Who else in our kingdom has the time and is always traveling for peace?” Hyacinth asks.
Elm stands and silently makes his way to the door. He doesn’t pause as he flings it open and exits the room, leaving Colette and Hyacinth here with me.
“Well, that didn’t go over well.” Colette whistles.Hyacinthsighs heavily and then turns to look at me.
“I need to speak with him, but first I can heal a part of your injury. The bruises that were made on impact from the magical fire are something I canheal, as it is untouched underneath the top of the skin.” She says, “Then I need to go try to mend my brother’s heart”
oves to me without
1catchColette’s relief through the mate bond and I put my hand out for her to come and stand by me. She moves to me hesitation, taking my cool hand in hers.
“This is going to hurt before it gets better.” Hyacinth whispers.
She moves to myback, a soft throbbing in my muscles grows more intense, like a weight pressing into me. My chest grows tight, and nay breathing more labored as I close my eyes and grit my teeth. I can feel my spine creaking and my ribs suddenly shift, cracking with soch Tonce I gasp, unable to make a sound as the pain consumes me,
Then it eases, my lungs filling with air with rase, and my muscles no longer tenseandaching. I look at Colette who watches me close,
Ling over her perfect·lips.
Chapter of
“That is all I can do Hyacinth says, sounding tired. “Your bruising seems like it was a little morethanthat.But you shouldhealmuch faster with your fractured ribs now healed and your bruised spine now better.”
“Thank you,” I tell her sincerely, and she steps around so I can see her.
“Thepleasure
e is all mine, Alpha King.” She gives me a small bow before Colette yanks her into a hug,a tear on her cheekasshe whispers thank you over and over. Hyacinth only chuckles at her, pulling away from the hug with a soft smile.
“Aren’t you so glad you didn’t kill me in the woods now?” she asks and Colette nods.
“Very much.”
*Now, I have a brother to help through a terrible heartache.” She gives a tightlipped smile before disappearing, closing thedoorbehind
her.
“How does it feel?” Coletteasksme
“Honestly, I think most of my pain was from the spine and ribcage.” I tell her, though it’s not the complete truth, but maybe she will stop babying me and stay with me in the bed tonight. For the whole damnnight.
She bites her lip, holding back a luminous smile, and I lift my arm, beckoning her to me. She snuggles up to my side,resting her head on my shoulder. We say nothing, just enjoying each other’s company before I can feel the shift in the room, the way the air grows tense and how the mind link shuts down.
“What is it?” I ask her and she sighs
“When will you head home?” She asks, and it feels like the world stops spinning on its axis, violently spiraling out of controlandinto chaos.
“Whatthehell doyoumean by “you?”Iask. “Do you mean we?”
Shesaysnothing and I scoff, wanting to punch Caspian for speaking to her about this after I told him not to mention it. Colette doesn’t have the option to go with him. She is mine, and she belongs at my side. She knows this, so why the is she acting like she has the option?
“Caspianwants me to go with him-
“I know. And the answer is no,” I say bluntly. “I need you, our pack and kind need you.”
And
I understand that, but what if I have more to offer?” She asks.
“Like what?” I scoff
“Like abilities I don’t know how to use yet, or strength I haven’t unlocked because I have only been in fresh water and not the ocean. Caspian is at his strongest when he is near seawater. Maybe 1 am the same.”
“Andwhat do you plan to do with these abilities?” I chuckle. Her going, her leaving at a time like thisisn’tjust absurd, it is stupid. Now is not the time for self–discovery and hopeful powers. It is the time to hunker down and plan for a war.
“Fight by your side.” She says it like it’s so obvious. But it’s not. How can it be when it is very obvious that she won’t ever be asked to fight!
“I need a Luna, not a warrior, Colette.”
“I could be both.” She whispers
“No.” I say firmly, putting an end to this. “No. You are not going, not when war is about to start. I need you with me. I have to know you are safe at all time otherwise I won’t be abletothink.”
“We will talk about this after you wake up.” She refuses to back down and 1 laugh.
There is nothing left to discuss.” I tell her.
“Fine, we will yell about it another time.” She says, shrugging “I wanted to be civil about it, but if you want to make it a fight, then we can fight in the morning. Right now, I need to sleep.”
I frown to myself, trying to remember when she became such a strong–minded woman, but then my frown turns to a smile, realizing how far she has come since she came into my life. It was only a matter of time before my meek mate became the strong–headed lana she was meant to be. I just sort of hoped I wouldn’t be on the receiving end of it anymore.