Page 34 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

“The younglings?” I asked. “Koa said you and Kieren—” I swallowed, unable to finish the thought. “Were they home from school?”

“The kids were in school except for Kieren. It’s a long story.” She forced out a smile.

When the bump on her head disappeared, I leaned in to press my lips to her temple and ran my nose along her cheek. Guardians, I needed to touch her, to hear her heartbeat and whispered breaths. I needed to soothe and protect. I needed to be here for her, for our younglings, and unborn babes.

“Tell me,” I said softly. “Long story or not, I want to know what happened.”

“I didn’t know it, but Kieren’s been staying at the orphanage,” she said.

I flinched, thinking of his missing father. “What of his mother?” I asked. “Is she not present in his life?”

“I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but I’m guessing not. The poor kid. No wonder he and Javi connected. He, more than anyone, would understand what it’s like to lose both parents. ”

“At least for now,” I answered, that need to find his father burning brighter inside me.

“If we can find his father?—”

“When we find his father,” I said with a confidence I didn’t exactly feel.

“When we find his father, is there something we can do to ensure he isn’t sent away again?” she asked. “Commander Hudson shouldn’t have sent Kieren’s father to the human realm if he didn’t have family to watch over him while his dad was away.”

“I’ll speak to George about it.” She was right.

If a youngling didn’t have anyone to watch over them while their warrior-parent went on a mission, then that warrior shouldn’t leave.

We had enough warriors that we needn’t use the orphanage for younglings whose parents were still alive and present in their lives.

She nestled her head on my shoulder and far too calmly told me how the headmistress of the orphanage had sent for Teddy and how she’d cared for Kieren until the men attacked her.

She told me of Eiran and how he’d used the tattoo and whatever bond they’d formed to instruct her on how to fight.

While she was shaken at the way Kieren had charged the man, I was grateful for his quick thinking.

If not for him, for Eiran, Alastor and the two lirio who’d come with him, I could’ve lost Teddy.

Just thinking about it ravaged my soul.

“I killed a man today.” She cleared her throat and dug her fingers around my shirt, knotting the fabric as she fidgeted.

Although her voice didn’t tremble, her fingers did.

“He came at me. I thought he wanted to kill me. I killed him, and I don’t know if I feel guilty about it.

I—shouldn’t I feel something? I mean, I feel—” She paused, and I stayed quiet so she’d have time to rummage through her thoughts.

“I don’t know what I feel, but I don’t think it’s guilt. ”

“These men came into our home uninvited. The man you killed attacked you.” I ran a trembling hand over her back, careful to keep my voice steady, but it was difficult.

“You defended yourself. I’m so glad you were able to defend yourself.

” I swallowed the fire burning from my gut to my throat.

“Killing someone, whether it’s justified or not, isn’t easy to live with.

But you get to live because of your actions.

I’m proud of you, Teddy. You are fierce and brave, and while I wish I’d been here to protect you, I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you don’t need me to.

” I gripped the back of her head, wanting to keep her close.

“Whatever you need from me, I’m here, mo elma.

Whenever these emotions hit you, whatever they are, they are valid, and I’ll be here to sit with you, to hold you, to talk things out. Whatever you need,” I repeated.

She moved closer to my neck to press her lips to my heated skin. Goosebumps spread everywhere. “I gave Alastor my journals. I didn’t want them in our home and was afraid to get rid of them. Is that okay? Do you mind?”

“Of course, I don’t mind.”

She shivered. “George and Alastor spoke to the man who attacked us.” Her tone came out far too calm, as if she was unconcerned.

I knew her well enough to see the facade she desperately tried to hide beneath.

Teddy, my soul-bound mate, was terrified and shaken beyond reason, but she didn’t want me to see it.

At least not yet. “They hadn’t intended to kill me but to take me back to their compound and use me when you went to them.

I guess they thought they could bargain my life for your fae. ”

A shiver started at the bottom of my back and coiled up my spine. I would never have bargained with feeble men when I could destroy them instead. They thought they could take what was mine, just as they had the fae.

They didn’t understand the bond between soul mates. They couldn’t understand what I’d unleash upon them for hurting her.

“They came in through the original tear you made in Colina, Elias. Over twenty men came in through the tear, and no one saw them. Maybe”—she pressed her lips together—“maybe you should send away all the humans. All they’ve done, all we’ve done?—”

When she bowed her head, I kissed her, running my hand over the back of her head. I just wanted to touch her. I needed that reminder, that anchor, that she was okay. Shaken but otherwise well.

“What if they brought in guns with iron bullets and gave them to the people here?” The mask she clung so tightly shattered with the first drop of her tears. “Throw the humans out. Lock them up. Do whatever you must so that they don’t hurt any more fae.”

“No fae were hurt today,” I said gently.

“They could’ve killed Kieren.” Her voice was laced with malice and terror.

“You should’ve seen that man’s face. While he may not have killed me, he would’ve killed Kieren.

He hated him, a child, simply for being who he was.

We can’t let that happen. I won’t let it.

” I wiped each tear as they fell down her cheeks. “Send them away,” she begged.

“If that is what you want, I will send the humans away,” I whispered, brushing my lips over her forehead. “But many of them have settled here without causing trouble.”

“How did over twenty people come in without anyone noticing?” she asked but didn’t wait for me to answer.

“They couldn’t have come in all at once.

They came in, one or two at a time, and hid among the people here.

Someone harbored them and probably took guns from them. They can’t be trusted, Elias.”

I stilled, shocked at her words. “The man George and Alastor questioned said this?”

She let out a dry laugh. “The asshole wouldn’t speak after saying they had no intention of killing me. He’s in your dungeon now, probably half dead after his interrogation.”

He would be the first to feel my wrath. To feel what it was like to have my soul stripped when I’d heard my mate had been attacked.

“Then you don’t know for certain that the humans living here helped them?” I asked it slowly, thinking through each word before I spoke it.

“What other explanation is there?”

I didn’t know, but I couldn’t cast out those I’d taken in because of fear. I wanted to. Guardians, I wanted to.

For what felt like the hundredth time, indecision plagued me.

“The important thing is you’re safe,” I said, wanting to pacify her nerves while mine built and built. “The younglings are safe. Our babes are safe.”

“For how long?” Her eyes crashed into mine, and I drowned in their despair.

“I’ll declare a state of emergency order, mandating every person, human or fae, to stay home for as long as it takes to search them,” I said. “I’ll personally go through every home if I must. We’ll find out if anyone harbored them and if there are any guns in this realm. I swear it, Teddy.”

“Kieren’s magic allows him to see lies,” she said. “He’s young, and I don’t want him involved in this mess, but maybe there are other fae with similar magic. Adult fae. ”

“Truth-tellers. I’ll issue a command for our truth-tellers to come forward to aid us,” I promised, thinking of the truth-teller that lived in the castle.

Garrison, whose mother worked as one of our castle employees, would be a good choice to lead this investigation alongside George.

She pressed her palm against my chest, where my heart raced without signs of slowing.

“George tried to declare a state of emergency so he could order everyone to their homes, but the council or whoever he tried to meet with ignored him.”

I growled, my temper rising so fiercely my chest started to hurt. I couldn’t understand why they’d deny him though. Teddy ran her hand over where it throbbed the worst.

“I will have my coronation as soon as possible,” I said through gritted teeth. “If you’ll allow it, I’d like to coronate you as my queen. Whether I am present or away, you will have every right to make such declarations.”

She lifted her head from my shoulders and looked at me through wide eyes. “These are your people, Elias.”

“Yet it was you who suggested casting your own people out to protect the fae,” I replied.

“I—”

“I won’t force you into a role you don’t want,” I said. “But it is yours should you wish to pick up the mantle with me.”

A tentative smile built. “Would you share your burdens with me then?”

I rubbed my nose against hers and leaned down to do the same against her neck. I filled my lungs with her.

“You’ve asked me several times to share my burdens with you and our friends,” I said. “I’ve been stubborn about it, but yes, I’ll share them with you if that’s what you wish. ”

“It is.”

“After the coronation, I’ll also officially name George as my commander,” I said. “In my absence, he’ll have full authority to do what he couldn’t today.”

“It won’t come to this again, though.” Although I thought she’d meant it as a declaration, it sounded more like a question.

“It won’t come to this again,” I answered.

For a few beats, she stayed quiet and content in my arms. Slowly, I felt her muscles lose their tension. I ran my hand through her hair, and she shifted so she could draw herself closer to me.

“Do you want to go inside and sleep?” I asked, not ready to let her go but knowing she must’ve been tired. “I heard everyone’s sleeping in the living room. Is it like the slumber parties Ryenne goes on about?”

She ran her nose along my throat, where she pressed the softest kiss on my Adam’s apple. “Similar. George, Javi, and Kieren even got the girls laughing and riled up with a pillow fight.”

“I’m sorry I missed it.” I was sorry I’d missed a lot of things. I couldn’t allow it to keep happening, though.

“I’m sure we could have another one tomorrow morning.” She yawned. “I know what my first order as queen will be. Or would I be a king consort?”

I ran my hand over her back, my lips pulling back at the thought of her title being a consort. “You are a queen, Teddy. Whether or not you go through with the coronation, you are a queen. My queen. Now tell me about your first order.”

She did. She told me how she wanted more for the younglings at the orphanage, and I agreed that Kieren not receiving the treatment he needed while in the orphanage’s care was something that needed to be rectified.

I was happy to give Teddy the reins to it and eager to see the changes she’d make for the betterment of my people.

Our people.

Should she want council, I’d happily give it to her.

I soaked in the lilt of her voice, letting it calm the remainder of my nerves. I was home with Teddy and the younglings that were mine in my heart. As Teddy had said, Kieren could stay with us until his father returned. Until then, he would also be under my care and protection.

And it seemed Teddy was under the care and protection of many others.

I owed Alastor and his lirio everything, as I did Kieren.

Just as I owed Brenton and Everly for training her and Eiran for reminding her of the knife she held.

I could never repay them for what they’d done, and knew they’d never accept any form of repayment.

When Teddy ran her fingers through my hair, I let my head drop forward. She continued talking, her voice like a song lulling me to sleep.

I was home. I was with my family, and we were safe.