Page 31

TRISTAN

An usshan. Not only is Amelia my mate, but she’s an usshan.

I resolve that once the situation in Sorsston is sorted, I will take a leave of absence from the army so we can spend time together undisturbed.

Fuck, maybe I’ll even retire from my posting as general.

If King Haratt doesn’t understand, he can go fuck himself.

But I must spend time teaching Amelia how to use her fae magic.

She’s only aware of a tenth of what I’m capable of.

She has no idea I can glare at someone’s throat and cause them to choke to death, or that I can glamour someone into telling the truth or even into killing themselves.

Yes, I will have to give her proper instruction to make sure she doesn’t inadvertently harm someone.

She would never forgive herself if that happened.

As I guide her toward my tent, my spirits sink at the sight of my commanders. Gods, what do they want? Oh, right. I’m still the fucking general and they must need my guidance about something. Or perhaps they’re bringing news from the castle.

I send Amelia a wave of affection and reassurance, then usher her inside the tent.

As I approach my commanders, I emit waves of dominance that make some of them cower.

I don’t want any of them to suspect I’m considering retirement from the army.

I don’t want any of them to believe I’m weak or giving up.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m not giving anything of real value up.

Instead, I’m gaining a treasure. I’m gaining Amelia.

Usshan or not, she’s not cut out for life in a war camp.

I can only imagine the heartbreak she would feel the next time the Summer Court army attacked a human city and slaughtered thousands.

I must get her away from the brutality of my people, away from the brutality of my former life.

I almost snort. My former life. I’m already thinking of my time as general as though it’s in the past. That’s how certain I am that the best course of action is whisking my fated mate to a safe, peaceful location where we might build a life together.

Perhaps we’ll settle in Giarrla, the same fae settlement that Prince Lucas and Yvette recently moved to.

As far as I know, the prince is the only highborn fae living in Giarrla, and the town is predominately occupied by regular faefolk who possess very few powers.

But it’s a mostly peaceful area, and if another highborn fae— me —moves there, Giarrla will be safer than ever before.

I continue staring at my commanders, wondering why the fuck none of them have spoken yet. Are they truly that intimidated by me? I growl. “What is it? What news do you bring?”

“Three separate orc armies are headed toward Sorsston. They were just spotted by our aerial patrols,” Commander Marss says. “They’re coming from the east, the west, and the north.”

I growl again, and I glance to the left as a highborn fae lands nearby and approaches our gathering. It’s Commander Klemat. I give him a brief nod before returning my gaze to the others. “How large is each army?”

“We estimate that each army is roughly ten-thousand strong,” Commander Klemat says. “Not only are they closing in fast—they’ll be here before nightfall—but they outnumber us.”

“They only outnumber us by two thousand,” I reply. “And they’re orcs. They don’t possess any magic. They rely on brute strength and use rudimentary weapons. I’m confident we can vanquish them.” Besides, in my three hundred plus years leading the Summer Court army, we’ve never lost a battle.

All the commanders murmur their agreement, and we formulate a plan of defense.

It feels a bit strange formulating a plan of defense, however, because the Summer Court army usually attacks.

We’re usually the ones surrounding a city or another army that’s on the road.

Nevertheless, I’m confident we’ll be victorious in the end, just as I’m certain we’ll suffer very few losses.

Orcs heal faster than humans, but they don’t heal faster than fae.

Many wounds that can take out an orc can’t succeed in destroying one of my people.

Amelia . I must keep her safe.

I sense her presence in my mind. I suddenly realize our shared ability to sense one another’s thoughts and emotions must only work when we’re in close proximity.

Whenever I’m far away from her, like in the castle, I’m not able to sense much, if anything.

Will that change once we consummate our mating union?

After issuing a few final commands, including an order that all the human and orc slaves and war prizes be relocated within the walls of Sorsston, I turn to my tent. I half expect to find Amelia peering out, but the flap remains closed.

Still, I know she overheard the conversation I just had with my commanders. The soundproof ward that’s still in place simply won’t work on her.

Because she’s an usshan, which means one day, with proper training, she will likely be as powerful as I am.

It’s a startling realization, and I almost laugh aloud. I resisted the possibility that she’s my mate for months just because I believed I should mate with a powerful, highborn fae female.

Yet Amelia’s power will one day match my own.

Together, we’ll be an unstoppable force, and it’s a relief to know she’ll eventually learn how to defend herself. I plan to always protect her and keep her safe, but I’m glad she’ll have the ability to do it herself if the day ever comes.

I enter the tent and find Amelia standing close, waiting for my return. She settles a worried look on me. “Thirty-thousand orcs?” she whispers. “That sounds dangerous.”

“It’s not as dangerous as it sounds.” I debate whether to tell her about the trouble in the castle that involves the servants.

Finally, I release a flood of memories and let her see for herself.

I let her know about Warden Xall’s death, as well as the twenty-plus fae soldiers, and I show her a vision of the servants in the dungeon.

I can’t lie to her or hide anything from her. Not when she’s my mate.

“I knew the trouble that brought the entire Summer Court army back to Sorsston had something to do with the castle. I sensed that much last night before you departed the tent. But thank you for sharing the details. I don’t like it.

I don’t like knowing the servants are suspects in some horrible plot against your people.

I’ll be honest. One or two of them might’ve done it, but I doubt all the servants agreed to such a plot.

I know them, and most of them value their lives too much to take that sort of risk. ”

“I suspect whoever killed Warden Xall and the soldiers did it in order to draw the entire Summer Court army to Sorsston,” I say.

“Also, the same individual, or individuals, might be responsible for the destruction of the sky bridge that delayed our travels south. A delay which allowed the three orc armies more time to take position.”

“It’s quite a plot.” Her visage darkens with worry, and I sense she’s anxious about the impending battle. She fears I’ll get hurt, and she’s also apprehensive about what might happen to the people of Sorsston, including her family, if the orc armies prevail.

I gather her close for a tender embrace, soaking up the feel of her as though it’s the last time I’ll ever touch her. But not only am I determined to win the battle, I’m confident the Summer Court army will be victorious. I only wish I knew who was behind the carefully orchestrated plot.

The orcs aren’t working alone, and I’m starting to believe my suspicions about a powerful, highborn fae’s involvement will eventually prove true.

I press a kiss to Amelia’s forehead, and I revel in the soft sigh she emits as she tightens her arms around my center. I wish we could stay here like this all day, joined in a tender embrace. If only.

“Come, sweet human, I must get you behind the walls of Sorsston. Actually, I want you to wait out the battle inside the castle. I’ll find a comfortable room for you, and I’ll ward the fuck out of it so no one can get in.

But you must promise to stay put. There will be plenty of soldiers inside the walls of Sorsston and within the castle, but as the battle unfolds, things might become a little chaotic. ”

“I promise I’ll stay put,” she says. “I only wish I knew how to tap into all your magic so I might fight at your side.”

I smile down at her, and my heart swells with affection for the pretty little human who’s stolen my heart.

“I know we haven’t consummated our union yet, Amelia, but you’re no longer my war prize. You’re my fated mate.”