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AMELIA

I think it means you’re my fated mate.

Tristan’s words keep repeating in my head. I hold his gaze as the sounds of the camp waking up surrounds us.

“You always expected to mate with a highborn fae female,” I say.

“I know that’s why you didn’t steal me away from my parents’ house that morning.

Because you believed that surely you were just physically attracted to me and nothing more, particularly given how rare it is for a fae to be fated to a full-blooded human. ”

His expression becomes anguished. “If I’d followed my instincts and stole away with you that morning, you wouldn’t have endured so much pain at Lord Nevel’s hands. Gods, I am sorry, Amelia.”

I feel a smile pulling at my lips. “You’re sorry you didn’t kidnap me sooner? Please don’t be. You could’ve never known what would happen. Besides, if you interfered with my impending marriage to a rich lord who lived in Sorsston near my family, I’m not sure I would’ve ever forgiven you.”

He exhales slowly. “I am glad he’s dead and I hope his demise brings you some measure of peace, sweet human.”

“Well, I’m not sorry he’s dead, and yes, I do feel a strange, almost guilty sense of relief, and peace, just knowing he’s gone.” Perhaps Tristan is right that sometimes it’s better to take matters of vengeance into your own hands, rather than leave a wicked person’s fate up to the gods.

I’m not sure if you realize this , he says down the bond that links our minds, but it’s highly unusual that we’re able to communicate via our minds before we’ve consummated our mating union.

I can’t help but wonder if it’s related to your abilities to bypass my wards.

There is something very special about you, sweet human.

I flush at his praise, even though I don’t believe there’s anything that remarkable about me. I mean, so I can bypass the wards of highborn fae. It’s a power that I’m not certain will ever be useful, particularly if Tristan keeps soldiers guarding the tent to prevent my escape.

My heart skips a beat. He believes I’m his fated mate, and I can’t deny that I share his belief. If we can discern one another’s thoughts and feelings, as well as speak mind-to-mind with ease, surely it means we’re mates.

I’m also fiercely drawn to him, and the prospect of ever parting with him makes my heart seize with pain. I know he feels the same way about me, and he detected the strength of the attraction between us long before I felt it.

I just remembered a story I heard as a child , he says through the bond, and I want to test something.

Another test? I ask. Why can’t I sense his exact thoughts at this moment? Is he blocking me out?

Yes, sweet human, I’m hiding a few thoughts from you right now, but I promise I don’t have bad intentions. Get dressed. I must take you into the forest.

The forest? Confusion sweeps through me.

After just coming to terms with the fact that we’re fated mates, I expected he would want to take me to bed and consummate the mating bond.

I glance at the rumpled covers on the bed, and I suppose he’s reluctant because I just had a nightmare about Lord Nevel, and the bastard’s head is resting in a grain sack right outside the tent.

I grab a fresh gown, and for the first time since I’ve been Tristan’s captive, I select one of the beautiful gowns he gifted me, the dark purple dress I’ve had my eye on for a while. I take the gown and a pair of slippers and change in the bathing area with the curtain pulled shut.

I almost laugh at what I’m doing. We’re mates, and we’ll likely join our bodies as one soon. Oh, and last night he saw me naked from the waist down as he watched me stroke myself to a climax, a release he’d guided me toward. Yet I’m changing behind a curtain.

After I emerge into the open area of the tent, I notice Tristan holding back a grin. “Stop reading my thoughts! I don’t need you listening in when I’m contemplating my own ridiculousness.”

“There is nothing ridiculous about you, sweet human.” His eyes gleam with warmth. “You are intelligent, skilled, exceptionally beautiful, and you possess one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever encountered. You are the most astounding female I’ve ever known, among fae and humans and orcs.”

His compliment makes my face heat. Well, shall we venture into the forest? I ask through the tether.

He nods. Yes, Amelia. I am anxious to discover whether my theory about you holds any truth.

Theory about me? Now you’ve really piqued my curiosity, I say down the bond. Are you sure you can’t tell me ahead of time why we’re headed into the forest? Also, are you going to teach me how I can block you from sensing my thoughts and emotions?

He smiles as he guides me toward the tent flap. “I’m sure I can’t tell you ahead of time. And yes, if you really want me to teach you how to block me from sensing your thoughts and emotions, I can, however it’s my hope that you won’t do it often.”

“Fair enough.”

We emerge from the tent into the early morning light. As I turn to face Tristan, my eyes snag on the bloodied grain sack that rests on the ground, and I take a quick step back as my stomach clenches.

Tristan rapidly guides me away from the bag that contains my former husband’s head, and he calls out for a soldier to dispose of the sack and the contents within. The soldier rushes past us to comply, and I breathe a sigh of relief knowing the sack will be gone when we return.

I’m sorry that you found the sack so unsettling, sweet human. I just wanted you to know beyond a doubt that the godsblasted male is dead.

I’m okay, and you don’t need to apologize. I suppose if I’m to live among your people, I will have to get used to such grand displays of vengeance and brutality.

He’ll never hurt you again, and neither will anyone else. I’ll maim anyone who dares to try.

Tristan wraps an arm around me and leads me to the ussha-blessed forest. It’s startling how vibrant the glowing vegetation has become in the forests surrounding Sorsston during the last few months.

It would seem the spread of ussha continues at a rapid pace, and soon the entire realm will be ruled over by the fae.

We walk along a well-worn path that I suppose hunters use, and eventually we come to a clearing that contains hundreds if not thousands of glimmering flowers in a variety of colors. The sight is so beautiful, it takes my breath away.

“All right, what now?” I ask, turning to stare at my soon-to-be mate. Unless he decides not to claim me. My stomach tightens at the thought. The truth is, despite all that’s happened, I want him to claim me. I’m starting to realize just how much I want to belong to him. But not as a war prize.

He gazes at the field of ussha-blessed flowers, then he lifts a hand and the air buzzes with summer magic. Wait, no, it’s Spring Court magic he’s using. He’s using the powers he inherited from his mother’s side of the family.

He waves a hand, and one of the glimmering blue flowers suddenly starts growing, and it doesn’t stop until it’s nearly as tall as me. He turns to me and gestures at the meadow.

It’s your turn, sweet human. Try to influence plant growth.

What? I’m not fae. How could I ever hope to influence plant growth?

He stares at me intently. “I realize you aren’t fae, but you’re able to walk through powerful wards as though they are nothing. Just like I can. I suspect that you’ve tapped into my magic. I suspect you’re an usshan.”

“An usshan?”

“Yes, an usshan. Usshans are humans, or orcs, who can tap into the magic of their fae mates. I heard stories about such humans and orcs when I was a child, though I’ve never met one before.

It would reason, if that’s what you are, you should be able to do almost anything magical of which I’m capable.

It’s possible you might even manage to summon wings one day, though I doubt that would occur until long after we’ve consummated our mating union and you gain more experience using fae magic. ”

My mouth falls open and I stare at him in wonderment. Could it be true? Could I be an usshan? Why are my palms suddenly tingling? I take a deep breath and gaze at the meadow.

Mimicking his earlier movements, I lift a hand and aim it toward an area that’s filled with sparkling purple flowers. I concentrate on the smallest flower in the bunch, wishing it were taller and thicker, wishing it would grow as high as Tristan’s flower.

My entire arm tingles and a slight vibration runs through my body, taking me aback. Oh, gods, is it working? I stare at the flower, still willing it to grow. The idea of being able to not only influence plant growth, but to perform other amazing feats with the use of fae magic, is thrilling indeed.

At last, the small purple flower shoots upward. It grows and grows, and it doesn’t stop until it’s as tall as Tristan’s flower, just as I’d hoped.

Stunned, I turn to look at my fated mate.

Mate . If I’m able to influence plant growth, then it means he’s truly my fated mate and I’ve tapped into his fae powers. Because I’m an usshan.

He smiles, guides me into the middle of the meadow, then pulls me close. He waves a hand and the flowers directly around us grow taller than us, giving us plenty of privacy. My heart races. Is this it? Is this the moment he’s going to claim me?

“No, sweet human,” he says gently, and his eyes gleam with reverence as he peers down at me, “this is the moment I’m going to kiss you. Finally.”

He clutches my face and presses his lips to mine.