Page 19 of Black Hearted (Cursed Fae #4)

I nodded. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the rest of my gold coins and set them on the bed next to her.

“I’ll ask the queen if you can stay here while I’m gone, but just in case, I want you to have money for food or lodging.”

She peered down at the small bag of gold coins next to her, her eyes wide. “I can’t take that. It’s yours.”

I shook my head. “It’s yours now. Don’t spend it all on sweets.”

She grinned at that, and I leaned over to give her a hug.

If someone had told me a week ago that I’d bond so closely with a young Fall fae girl, I’d have thought they were mad. But in such a short time, Nellie felt like family, and now I had a hard time imagining her not being here.

In truth, I felt a sense of relief knowing I wouldn’t be dropping her off with a relative and saying goodbye forever. I’d have to figure out what to do with her long term—I didn’t know what the future held—but for now, she’d be safe here.

After wishing her goodnight, I grabbed my satchel. Inside was the broken Shadow Heart, a note for Lorelei attached to the vial, and the three faestones—Isolde’s intact dagger, as well as the remains of Aribella’s and Dawn’s, which Stryker had melted down.

Straight from Nellie’s room, I headed for the queen’s study. When I arrived, there were two guards flanking the door. They patted me down before letting me enter and checked my bag. When they spotted Isolde’s dagger, they insisted on taking it in themselves.

I reluctantly handed over the satchel but made sure to keep it in my sight.

When we entered the room, the guards pulled all the contents out and placed them before the queen before leaving.

“Will the Fall and Winter Court rulers be joining us?” I asked. I’d learned that the monarchs of the Fall and Winter Courts, along with their families, were also taking refuge in the Spring Palace. Yet, I hadn’t encountered any of them.

Queen Gloriana shook her head. “No. They’re busy enough supporting their displaced subjects. I’m sure you noticed the tents outside the city gates as well as how crowded the city is right now.”

I nodded. Seeing the hopeless looks on so many faes’ faces since entering the city had definitely hardened my already steely resolve to find Lorelei and end this once and for all.

“Besides,” Queen Gloriana went on, “I didn’t think it wise to let them know there was an Ethereum lord in the palace.” She arched a brow at me, her gaze dropping to my chest, where my black heart beat. “I didn’t want to risk it. That heart of yours is far too tempting.”

Right. As far as they knew, I was still the enemy. “In that case, I appreciate your discretion.”

“Hmm,” was all she said, giving me a look that seemed to mean I’d better be worthy of her trust.

As I stood before her large oak desk, her gaze dropped from my face and settled on Isolde’s dagger and the faestones from Dawn’s and Aribella’s daggers.

“Please tell me you did not kill the princesses for these,” she said, her voice shaky.

I frowned. “What? No. The princesses are now my sisters-in-law. I would never.”

At that, her wide-eyed gaze snapped back up to meet mine. “So it’s true, then? Mates?”

I nodded. “Dawn married my brother Zander first. Then Aribella married Stryker, and Isolde has just wed my brother Adrien.”

The queen looked genuinely mystified. “So they’re all safe and … married in your world?”

I nodded again. “They are. Though my realm is also under the curse, and they worry about you here.”

She looked down at her hands, silent for a long time before finally meeting my gaze again.

“Are you telling me that my daughter Lorelei is your … mate?”

I swallowed hard. “I think so, yes.”

I’d waited so long for my mate—my wife. Father used to tell us stories of what it was like to meet your mate, to kiss them for the first time.

I longed for those magical feelings, and I thought that, in a way, I had already felt them a little myself.

But in the dream, when I had met Lorelei, the pull that she had on me felt too distant because the memories were hazy.

I was also realistic enough to know that things needed to unfold somewhat naturally.

I had no idea how Lorelei felt about us being mates or if she even believed it. She’d only read about the concept in Isolde’s letter to her. At some point, each of my brothers and their wives had denied their mate bonds existed before finally embracing the truth.

I’d had more time than Lorelei to learn about and accept the idea of mates, so the last thing I wanted to do was pressure her. That would only push her away. If she needed time, I would give it to her, no matter how hard it might be for me.

“And what’s all this?” Queen Gloriana gestured to the items on her desk.

“Part of what I need to bring to Lorelei to help her end the curse.”

The queen perked up at that. “So you have a plan to end the curse?”

“One that doesn’t involve my heart, yes. But first, I need to save Lorelei from Queen Liliana.”

I then told her about the dreams Lorelei had visited me in and where she thought she was: the Turtle Mountains.

“The Turtle Mountains,” the queen mused, standing suddenly.

I nodded. “She said she was east of them somewhere. I’d like to leave immediately to look for her, but Nellie just confessed to me that she doesn’t actually have an aunt here. Apparently, she only told me that to get me to bring her here with me.”

The queen appeared deep in thought, as if working through a hundred different scenarios in her mind.

“Could Nellie stay here while I go look for Lorelei?” I asked. “I’ve left her what little coin I have—”

“Yes, of course she can,” she said, waving me off. “Thalion will stay back and look after the children. I have three other daughters besides Lorelei. You and I, along with my royal soldiers, will leave at first light. I must go now and prepare.”

She gestured to her desk and the items the guards had taken from me. “You can have this back.”

I noticed her hand was shaking, and her eyes welling with tears. Reaching out, I gently grasped her fingers.

“Queen Gloriana, I vow to bring your daughter to safety.”

I met her gaze, and she seemed to relax a little.

“Please, call me Glori. There’s no need to be so formal. Not if what you are telling me about you and my daughter is true.”

I nodded, pleased to find the queen was warming up to me.

“Lorelei is one of the sweetest souls you will ever meet. The thought of her—” Glori’s voice broke.

I nodded. I believed her. I hadn’t had the chance to get to know Lorelei well yet, but I wanted to. I knew that when I did, I’d probably fall madly in love.