Page 25
Story: A Kingdom Ruthless and Radiant (Age of Fae Romantasy #2)
Chapter 25
Fast and Loose with the Facts
R aewyn
“Stellon,” I cried.
Incredibly, the shock I’d felt at Pharis’ declaration was surpassed by the stunning experience of seeing Stellon again.
What on earth was he doing here? How had he found us?
He rushed up to me, taking me by the hand and pulling me into his arms, lifting me off my feet to spin me around.
“My love. I’ve finally found you,” he said.
I turned my face so his kiss landed on my cheek instead of my mouth—and spotted Pharis’ expression. He also looked surprised to see Stellon here.
And he did not look happy.
Stellon, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed. Which made no sense.
Finally found you? My love?
Pharis had said Stellon never wanted to see me again or even to know where I was.
And he was a married man now. Why would he have been looking for me?
“Is your bond-mate with you?” I asked in a tone that came out sounding rather icy.
“My bond-mate?”
“Lady Glenna.”
Stellon shook his head, confusion clouding his clear blue eyes. “I’m not married. I backed out of the wedding. Pharis didn’t tell you?”
I turned to glare at Pharis, who stood there looking murderous and not the least bit ashamed of his lie.
“I have missed you so much, Firebug,” Stellon said, taking both my hands in his. “And I have so much good news to tell you. I assume Pharis has already told you about your mother?”
“About my mother?” I asked, turning back once more to see Pharis.
He was shaking his head at Stellon, giving him a forbidding look.
What else had Pharis withheld from me? And how could either of them possibly know anything about my mother?
“What about my mother?” I asked eagerly.
If Stellon told me she was alive somewhere, I was going to pass out from joy. It had been an additional sadness to us all that her body had never been found and returned to the village.
“It’s good news,” Stellon assured me, beaming. ”And it changes everything . Raewyn… she was Elven.”
I still felt as if I might pass out, though joy was not the cause. Shock was. My mother was Fae? I was half Elven?
“What? How is this possible?” I asked. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Mareth realized it first. It was the locket—long story—but she was not just Elven, she was nobility. Do you know what this means?”
I shook my head vigorously, barely keeping up. My mind was spinning from one surprise after the next. Why had Papa never told me?
And Pharis had known all this time and hadn’t told me either?
“Now we know Elves and humans can procreate,” Stellon said. “And you might have a greatly extended lifespan—immortality even.”
He leaned down and kissed me, just a quick peck, but from the corner of my eye, I saw Pharis moving forward.
Stellon ignored him. “I love you. You love me. And now there’s nothing to keep us apart, Firebug.”
Pharis reached us. Though he didn’t do anything but stand a bit too close, I could sense the energy charging just beneath the calm surface.
“Tell her the rest of that story, Stellon,” he growled.
Stellon didn’t spare him a glance, keeping his excited gaze on me.
“My father has agreed to allow us to marry. I told him about your mother being Elven and of noble birth. He has given his approval.”
My head jerked toward Pharis, and my tone was full of venom. “You knew the King had agreed to let Stellon marry me?”
“No, that part is news to me,” he said adamantly, “and I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Turning his attention to his brother, he said, “Stellon, you know that’s not what I was talking about. Tell her the rest.”
Stellon ignored him, and I couldn’t blame him. At the moment I felt like I never wanted to see the Prince of Partial Truths and Withheld Information ever again.
I turned back to Stellon, a sense of wonder permeating me.
“Your father really had a change of heart about me? And you believe him?”
“He swore it to me mind to mind. You can ask him yourself. He’ll be here any second.”
Pharis and I both said, “What?” at the same time, but in his case it was more of a roar.
“I’m traveling with him,” Stellon explained, completely unworried. “I caught up with his portion of the search party and explained what I knew about your mother.”
Shooting a side glance at Pharis, he said, “Just as you advised me to, brother. He had a Tracker with him, and I augmented his glamour so we could find you and tell you the good news. We lost the trail for a bit thanks to the hidden location of this village, but they’re all on their way. I’m riding a few minutes ahead.”
“You idiot.” Pharis said in a guttural tone dripping with disgust. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Raewyn, we have to get out of here.”
Stellon whipped around to face his brother. “What have you done? Huh?”
He glanced back at me, taking in my undoubtedly disheveled appearance, which I hadn’t even considered until now.
“Apparently I found you not a moment too soon, based on the state of her. I know what she looks like when she’s been kissed,” Stellon yelled.
To me he said, “Don’t worry, I don’t blame you . I know my brother. He has a reputation for making smart girls stupid—and he’s apparently been playing fast and loose with the facts.”
Pharis bowed up and pointed at Stellon’s chest as he yelled, “ You played right into Father’s hand. I can’t believe you’re this big a fool. He’s just using you to get what he wants, brother. As always. And you were stupid enough to trust him.”
Stellon let out a loud, “Ha!”
“You’re a fine one to talk about trust,” he said. “You’ll see. It’s all going to work out for Raewyn and me.”
He grabbed my hand, pulling me to his side.
“Thank you for keeping her safe, brother.” Stellon sneered. “We’ll talk about what else you might have done later. I’m too happy right now to challenge you to a duel.”
Pharis snorted. “As if you could ever beat me.”
Slipping an arm around my waist, he forcibly pulled me from Stellon’s grasp. I was beginning to feel like a scrap of meat being stretched tug-of-war style between two hungry strays.
“Come on. My brother has led the greatest predator of all directly to his prey,” Pharis said. “We have to get out of here before it’s too late.”
Unfortunately, before I could even decide which brother to listen to, too late arrived—with a vengeance.
Havendor’s center street filled with soldiers on horseback, all armed and wearing the colors of the Crown. At the head of their formation was the King.
And beside him… the Earthwife.