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“I have something to show you that will make you very happy.” He smiled as we stood. “Our real date that I was getting ready earlier.” He grabbed my hand. “The other reason I was so cruel to you in the clearing.”

We climbed on our horses and headed back towards the castle. Anticipation coursed through me as we got closer. Cassius just kept smiling like this was the best day of his life. Instead of continuing to the castle, he turned toward the woods and led our horses down a narrow path around the outskirts of the city.

Cassius’ smile widened when we came to a tiny town. I furrowed my brows in confusion as I looked around.

“I don’t recognize it.”

“You’re not supposed to.” He climbed off his horse before helping me down. “One last lie I needed to confess.”

“Another one?” I raised my eyebrow at him with humor.

“I had to make sure you would be sticking around before I could tell you this.”

Chapter 33

He grabbed my hand and led me down the small pathway in the town. It was mostly cute houses, some small fountains, and a few shops. It was like a mini version of Crimson City.

“The day you gave the bloodstone to your father, I said horrible things to you. I wanted them to think I didn’t care. I didn’t want them to use you as a way to get to me, because they would have in a heartbeat, Thea. And I would have done whatever I could to protect you.” I looked up to him and felt his sincerity through our bonds. “I couldn’t let you choose me once your father showed up at the clearing, because he would have killed you immediately. When I disappeared from the field, I went to Exile. You had told me about it once before, but I couldn’t find it. I searched the Forbidden Wood for days until I found it. I swore to you that I would always protect our family, and elite magic fae are a part of that family.”

My chest was heavy with anxiety. Did he hurt them? Fated mate or not, I would leave him for that.

“It’s alright, my love.” He squeezed my hand as fear gripped me. “Because you weren’t in Exile anymore, the border had faded. It took some convincing on my part to have them come with me to save them from your father or Jesper finding them. Sybil was the one to convince them. She remembered me while the others only remembered bits and pieces.”

Was he telling me that they were here? My eyes looked around as they started emerging from their homes. Elite magic fae lined the street, smiling at me. Tears sprang from my eyes as I saw their faces. They were alright.

“Thea!” Sybil was running toward me with Kaz and Kai right behind her. I dropped Cassius’ hand and ran to them. My arms squeezed Sybil and the twins, and my heart exploded with happiness and shock.

“I thought you had died,” I choked out. “I thought I had failed you all.”

“You’ve done amazingly. Cassius brought us here to protect us, to save us until we could be out freely without fear of your father and Jesper.” Sybil smiled through her tears of happiness. “You picked a good one.” Sybil grabbed my face and smiled brightly. All the other elitists came and hugged me as well.

I thanked them. They had chosen to follow me to Exile all those years ago. They had pledged loyalty to me, and some had died because of it. After a moment, I looked for Cassius. He was standing where I had left him, smiling. Love filled my chest when I looked at him. He had done this for me. He loved me. I walked to him and stopped a few feet in front of him.

“Are you happy?” he asked.

“Yes.” I felt the overwhelming urge to tell him how much I cared and loved him. There was nothing that I could say. No words would ever be enough to describe what I felt for him. I decided on the most basic form of the phrase. “I love you,Cassius. More than the stars and moon. I will thank the gods every day that they gave me you as a mate.”

As the words fell from my lips, something inside me shifted, as if I were exactly where I should be. Cassius’ face lit up as he lifted me off the ground to kiss me.

“I’ve waited a very long time to hear those words fall from your mouth, wife.”

The term immediately shot lust through me. Cassius was mine, and nothing was going to change that.

Someone cleared their throat lightly as I deepened the kiss with Cassius. When I pulled away, Kai and Kaz stood in front of all the elite magic holders as they all smiled at me and bowed.

“Captain,” they all addressed me. I untangled myself from Cassius and watched them all stand. They all looked at me like I was their hero.

“You should talk with Sybil and the twins,” Cassius whispered into my ear as he hugged me from behind. I twisted in his arms and kissed him before stepping away. “I’ll be back for you in a little bit.”

My heart clenched; I wanted him to stay. He smirked slightly.

“I’ll miss you too, but we will have a lifetime together.”

I nodded as I headed to Sybil, who wrapped me up in another hug. She pulled away and took my hand, leading me to a nice cottage. My eyes took in the bright space that held so much personality in it. Sybil had decorated the large area with so many herbs and flowers that it looked like a garden.

She got us tea as I admired her cozy home.

“This doesn’t seem real,” I smiled. “My father and Jesper tried to convince me that Exile didn’t exist, that I had imagined it all.”