Page 461 of Bitten By the Fae

She’s alive.

I could feel it in my bones, in my soul, in my every breath. The dark source had accepted her sacrifice. And allowed her soul to pass through the heart of Midnight Fae power before returning to her corporeal state.

She passed her trial.

Not just the sacrifice test, but the respect one as well. The knowledge echoed around us, the whole of Midnight Fae kindbowing to their chosen queen. It was the sort of respect that didn’t need to be seen, but felt. And it sent me to my knees.

“My queen,” I breathed, tears pooling in my eyes, battling the moisture that already existed from my earlier sadness. These new tears were ones of profound happiness and pride. “You did it.”

Zeph stilled beside me, so lost in his grief that he hadn’t noticed her return. Then he fell to his knees beside me for an entirely different reason, emotion ripping from his chest on an anguished cry he’d held within himself for too long, his pain overwhelming our bond.

I reached for him, steadying him and allowing him his moment. He’d been so shocked, and then stricken, that he hadn’t been able to react. And now that Aflora was awake, he’d released a wave of anguish he could no longer contain.

Anguish that quickly turned to exuberance as he crawled toward her, his hand seeking hers.

It was probably the one and only time I would ever see him bend in such a way.

Shade?I whispered, noting his hunched shoulders and broken form. His forehead rested against Aflora’s chest, his body unmoving.

He didn’t reply.

Zeph kissed Aflora, a possessive growl going through him. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

Shade?I repeated, trying to find his mind in our connection. But all I heard was silence.

“Are you all right, little star?” Zakkai asked, kneeling beside the arm of the couch, close to her head and near Zeph.

Shade still didn’t move, even as Zeph’s body nudged him from the side.

Aflora nodded slowly, her blue eyes blinking up at Zakkai and Zeph. She glanced at me next, then down to Shade’s bowed head.

She lifted her hand to run her fingers through his hair, saying nothing out loud. But I felt the hum of energy that suggested she spoke into his mind.

He didn’t react.

I frowned.

“Shade.” Aflora’s voice was soft with sleep, like this had all been a strange nightmare, not a heartbreaking experience. “You’ve given us everything, Shade. It was my turn to sacrifice something for you.”

Her fingers continued to comb through his hair, her motions tender and rhythmic.

“It’s still the right path,” she continued. “And you’re the reason we’re here.” She looked at each of us. “You all are my purpose for being here.” Her attention returned to the broken man against her chest. “And you made that possible, Shade.”

She drew her touch down to his nape, his dark hair a stunning contrast to her pale skin.

“Life cannot exist without death,” she whispered. “I understand that now. Because of you, Shade. Because of all of you.”

She smiled, her expression breathtakingly real, and yet she glimmered like an intangible goddess.

You wear power beautifully,I said into her mind.You’re stunning.

Electricity kissed my skin as she responded with magic instead of words, her control over the dark source nearly resolute.

“You’re mine to protect now, too,” she murmured to Shade. “We will all make sacrifices for each other. It’s what makes us stronger. And we all know we have you to thank for paving the way for us. You gave us a gift that will never be repaid. But I will spend my eternity with you, trying to repay it.”

“I don’t want to be repaid,” he muttered against her chest. “I just want you.”

“You have me,” she vowed. “You have me entirely.”