Page 32
Story: A Kingdom Ruthless and Radiant (Age of Fae Romantasy #2)
In all the hours I’d been watching over her, she hadn’t moved once, but the healer assured me Raewyn was only sleeping.
“You’re sure she’ll wake up?” I asked. “Her injuries weren’t too deep?”
“I swear it on my life. She’s healed.”
“She’d better be,” I warned. “Or you’ll find yourself minus your glamour—and your head.”
I wouldn’t mind adding the skill of healing to my growing arsenal.
The older woman chuckled at my empty threat.
“The process took a lot out of her. She’s only half Elven after all. And she endured no small amount of mental distress being picked up by a dragon and flown hundreds of miles. She’ll wake when she’s ready, Prince Pharis.”
I nodded, relaxing a fraction, and Elanor left the room.
The woman had been devoted to me and my siblings when we were children, but once our mother died, she’d been desperate to leave Seaspire.
She’d never liked my father. He preferred male healers anyway.
So I’d employed Elanor at my own castle, Stormcrest, in the far north of Marinus. I visited only rarely, but the King never visited the place, and that had been good enough for Elanor.
Immediately after completing my ill-fated meeting with Stellon the night before the planned execution, I’d sent a Swift bird here instructing her to make preparations.
My plan had been a risky one, and I’d known one or both of us might sustain injuries.
I just wished it had been me.
My message to Elanor told her to alert my other staff that I’d soon be in residence and wanted no questions asked—and no information about my movements shared outside the palace, on penalty of death.
Moving around the room, I checked to see that none of the fresh flower arrangements had started to wilt, made sure the candle wicks were all trimmed and ready for lighting the moment it grew dark.
Then I stepped out onto the veranda to verify the flowering vines I’d ordered the gardener to arrange on a trellis around Raewyn’s window were placed perfectly and attracting the hummingbirds I knew she liked.
They were. Everything was ready.
Now all I needed was for Raewyn to open those beautiful brown eyes and prove that my plan to save her had worked.
Returning to my chair beside the bed, I reached over and smoothed the silky coverlet keeping her warm. Her hands lay at her sides, and I reached over and lifted one, bringing it to my lips.
“Wake up, Wildcat,” I whispered against her cool, soft fingers. “Come back to me. I’ll never let anything hurt you or scare you again.”
I should never have allowed it in the first place.
As soon as that matchmaker’s glamour had told me Raewyn was mine, I should never have let her out of my sight. None of this would have happened if I’d claimed what was mine right from the start.
I’d allowed my hurt feelings at her rejection and my love for my brother to get in the way.
Never again. As long as I was alive, Stellon wouldn’t be getting anywhere near Raewyn—not until she was bonded to me anyway.
I had never wanted the crown he now wore. I had never wanted anything really until I’d laid eyes on her.
Now, thanks to my new Compelling glamour, courtesy of the dearly departed former King, I would have whatever I wanted.
And what I would always want, for the rest of eternity, was Raewyn.
Glancing back at the window, I watched as dark shadows gathered in the corners then covered the panes entirely, stretching and growing to cloak the entire castle and its grounds, hiding this place from anything or anyone who might try to take her away from me.
Thank you for reading A Kingdom Ruthless and Radiant—I hope you loved it!