Over the next two days, Elena, Derek, Keen, Reese, and the rest of the soldiers and friends supporting them put New Kingdom back in order.
Maybe order was a bit optimistic.
Ulric had been forced to imprison a dozen guards, who’d staged a small coup against Elena’s authority, and Elena had fought off an assassin with a lightning bolt. Keen and Derek had fought off another dozen idiots who’d thought they could get rid of Elena, but for the most part, the kingdom was getting used to her as their ruler. Particularly after she opened the New Kingdom guard and allowed in several townsmen who’d previously been relegated to farming duty.
Elena had also given several high-ranking guards and courtiers positions within her military elite and advisory committee, and she’d named Ulric her master of the guard, replacing Keen.
Reese had known her sister loved Ulric—she could read Illa’s emotions—but she didn’t know how quickly Illa would act on those feelings.
Ulric and Illa were married the day after the attack. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am. For immortals, they sure made lasting decisions quickly.
Illa and Ulric were holding down the fort in New Kingdom now that the immediate threats had been defused. People were somewhat mollified by town brethren in new guard positions and others filling court ranks, so Derek and Elena took that opportunity to return to Old Kingdom, and Reese and Keen joined them.
In the end, Keen had agreed to rule Old Kingdom as long as he had the majority vote among court Fae, but Radnor didn’t think that would be a problem.
“You will live here with me,” Keen said as they made their way through the Old Kingdom castle to a bedroom they’d share for the night. Camille had been busy—with what, no one knew—so Derek, Elena, Radnor, Deirdre, Reese, and Keen had traveled the old-fashioned way. By foot.
Traveling on foot wasn’t as painful as it would have been before Reese’s Ancient Allon transformation, but still. They had electricity, yet no cars? Fae strength made it so that running was literally faster than riding a horse and cart, the way the farmers got around, but this was taking the scenic route too literally.
“That won’t work,” she said, as he carried her pretty gowns and her new training uniforms over his large shoulder, just as he’d done all those miles to the castle. “I can’t live here full time. I want to finish school. Which won’t be easy. As it is, I’m going to have to wear flats so no one wonders about my awesome new height.”
He rolled his eyes, which she promptly ignored, because her height was awesome even if no one here thought so.
“Don’t even get me started on how I’m going to keep my physical appearance from my dad, though he’s not the most observant when it comes to me; maybe it won’t matter. My mom hooked up with Hakon, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to her.” Reese’s mouth twisted. “The moment I get my hands on her, she’s getting an earful.”
“So visit your family. I don’t understand the need to live there.”
“I told you, school. I have to return to campus for exams. Plus, I’ll need to be at Dawson part of the time to train in Emain.”
Reese had written a letter to her professors, which had been hand-delivered by one of the Emain Fae. She’d explained that there’d been a family emergency, and asked to turn in her work remotely. Normally, that sort of thing would never have been acceptable long-term, but Keen had connections on campus and got her professors and counselors to agree to the terms. He was less enthusiastic about her training in Emain instead of Tirnan.
Reese didn’t want to be away from him, but she saw a future in helping Emain bridge the gap between Halven and Fae.
He growled. “We should have married. Then you would have to do as I say.”
Reese bent over and laughed. “You’re kidding, right? Since when do I do what you say just because you say it?”
He reached back and swatted her ass.
“Ow! That hurt. Your hands are like meat cleavers.”
“Pardon,” he said abashedly, then added, “Would you like me to kiss it and make it feel better?”
She cut him a side-eye. “No, you naughty man.”
He grinned.
She shook her head and made sure to wait outside while Keen unloaded their things in the room. No way was she going near a bed with him close. The guy had skills. She’d find herself on her back before she knew what hit her, with more practice in the works.
They dropped off their clothes in the large suite they’d been assigned, and Keen tried to tempt Reese into testing out the softness of the bed. Being the only levelheaded one these days—their friends were waiting for them—she’d prudently refused.
He couldn’t get enough of her. And he never would.
Keen didn’t know how he’d held out against Reese as long as he had. Fortunately, he’d come to his senses.
They made their way to the kitchen, where they met up with Derek, Elena, and Deirdre.
Kitchens were sacred among Fae, given the quantity of food his kind ate to keep up with their fast metabolisms. Theresa, the head cook, might come from humble beginnings, but she was just below the king in terms of importance to the castle. No one crossed her, or they found themselves going hungry.
“Just ain’t right,” she muttered. “You should be in the formal dining area, you should.” Theresa harrumphed, but she set out a massive platter of cheese, meat, and bread.
Keen and a few others in the room visibly relaxed.
Theresa wasn’t going to put up a fuss and refuse them food, which suited him, because eating sounded marvelous. Almost as wonderful as returning to the bedroom and seducing Reese. He’d rather be alone with his woman, but she was being difficult. As usual.
Keen made a dash for the food—until Derek cut him off and nearly knocked the platter to the floor.
Derek shrugged, stuffing half a loaf of bread in his mouth.
Reese shook her head as Keen nudged Derek out of the way with his elbow, a smile playing along her pretty lips. Travel to Old Kingdom had made everyone hungry. But Reese’s beautiful mouth only reminded Keen of his other hunger…
She wouldn’t marry him—yet. Wouldn’t agree to live with him full time either, but he’d have his way. Though her plans about school and becoming an Emain soldier appeared serious.
A Halven Emain warrior? Had she lost her mind?
No, she was simply Reese. And he loved her, feisty though she was.
He was no fool. He’d give her anything she wanted, as long as it made her happy.
Keen sighed, circled Derek, who’d ignored the not-so-gentle elbow jab, and slid the tray to his side of the table, piling a slab of meat on a plate.
Derek frowned, but didn’t complain. His plate was full. Before he could pile more food on he had to eat what was there, though it was rapidly disappearing.
Radnor entered the kitchen and stopped beside Reese. “Here you all are.”
Keen dished food on a separate plate and brought it to Reese. She offered him a sweet smile, making his heart beat a little faster.
He had ignored the physical signs that indicated his feelings for Reese from the very beginning, determined to not fall in love with the beautiful Halven—or human, as he’d first thought. He’d never had a mother or sisters, but Illa had once told him that when he found the one he loved, he’d do things he never imagined just to be close to her. As far as Keen knew, Illa had never fallen in love, until she met Ulric in New Kingdom. He wasn’t sure how she knew such things at an early age, but she was right. And little did Illa know that Keen would fall in love with her very own sister.
“I assume you will be staying with us, daughter?” Radnor said. “And for that matter, I prefer you change your last name. I’ve been thinking about it, and you are a Radnor. No more of this Fisher business.”
Reese choked on her bite of food. “Excuse me? Fisher is my last name, given to me by the man who, you know, raised me. I won’t take your name because you think it’s a good idea. I barely know you.”
Ignoring her last comment, he said, “That pompous buffoon your mother married? He never deserved her. Or you.”
Reese’s shoulders tensed.
Keen sighed, because he knew what was coming.
“That man,” she said, “might not have set a good example for father of the year, but he was there—mostly—and he claimed me as his.”
“I gave you your name, not your father.”
Her brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“I had your mother name you after my own mother, so that you would know you were mine. Would have given you my last name too, but your mother claimed some nonsense about appearances. She put up a fight about it. The woman gets tetchy when she wants her way. You had just been born and I didn’t want her to become ill with all of the energy she was expending arguing with me. I gave in on the last name, but not the first. You were named after my mother, Rohese Radnor. Your mother changed the spelling to appear more human—again, not my idea,” he said sulkily.
Reese swallowed hard. “You named me…after your mother?”
“Of course. You are my daughter. Would have raised you here if your mother hadn’t put up another fuss about that too. I wanted her to leave that…well, your father, but she wouldn’t. She worried about your life as a Halven in Tirnan. In the end, she was right. It wouldn’t have been safe for you, or her. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Fortunately, your mother was, but it meant I missed out on the early years of your life.”
“You mean my entire life,” Reese said dryly.
Radnor waved her off. “Those were but a few years. Many more to come. And this time, you are safe in our land. Relatively so,” he amended.
She would be safe if Keen had to take down every Fae who believed her inferior. No one was better than his Reese.
Radnor was correct: their land was relatively peaceful now. Those infected with the new disease had been quarantined and quickly cured by Elena, and Marlon’s secret lab inside the New Kingdom palace had been destroyed. Both kingdoms were on stable ground, with reasonable communication between the two, now that Keen led Old Kingdom and Elena ruled New Kingdom. That did not guarantee a truce, for there was much to negotiate that had little to do with whether Keen and Elena got along—his people were a prickly group. But for now, they were safe.
Radnor and Reese spoke softly in the corner, and Keen watched as Radnor reached out and touched Reese’s shoulder. She blushed shyly, then smiled. Keen was pleased with their reunion. Anything that proved to Reese how special she was made him happy.
He sighed, remembering. He’d done the opposite when he’d first met Reese. He’d wanted her the instant he saw her, but he’d pushed those emotions down, blocked his feelings for her, making negative comments and taking actions that made her feel less than special. He’d never forgive himself for the way he’d treated her, but he’d also never stop proving to her how much she truly meant to him.
After a few minutes, Reese returned to his side, smiling as she looked out at the room. Radnor approached the scored wooden butcher’s table around which they’d all hovered at one point or another, and took his turn at the food platter that had already been refilled three times. Reese slipped her hand into Keen’s and he smiled down at her, tugging her closer to his side until her soft curves pressed up against him.
He felt at peace. For once. Utter and complete peace. He was where he was meant to be, with the one person he couldn’t live without.
And then the air wavered in the middle of the room, and Keen’s back stiffened. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention, and his muscles tensed.
He set his plate to the side, and tugged Reese behind him.
Derek was in full view—the air wavering couldn’t be him in his Blended state. Nothing but magic made air molecules refract in such a way.
“What is it?” Reese tried to peek around him, but he kept her behind his larger frame.
Before he could respond or sound out an alarm, something fell out of the air, crashing into metal pans stacked atop a table in the corner of the room.
Swords were rapidly drawn, daggers slipped from sheaths, Elena’s hands held up as though she were about to use the elements…but it was only Camille tumbling in from one of her portals.
Camille scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide. The dark-haired Fae with the crystal blue eyes appeared fearful.
“They are here,” she said.
